NameCensus.

UK surname

Greg

A surname derived from the Greek personal name "Gregorios", meaning watchful or alert.

In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Greg surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 130, ranked #26,152, down from #18,501 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Putney and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Mid Sussex and Havering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greg is 161 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.1%.

1881 census count

112

Ranked #18,501

Modern count

130

2016, ranked #26,152

Peak year

1861

161 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Greg had 112 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,501 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016, ranked #26,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 161 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Greg surname distribution map

The map shows where the Greg surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Greg surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Greg over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 114 #15,716
1861 historical 161 #14,392
1881 historical 112 #18,501
1891 historical 149 #18,420
1901 historical 82 #25,019
1911 historical 99 #22,850
1997 modern 37 #33,964
1998 modern 42 #33,651
1999 modern 44 #33,601
2000 modern 33 #34,607
2001 modern 32 #34,537
2002 modern 42 #33,951
2003 modern 40 #34,215
2004 modern 50 #33,566
2005 modern 48 #33,932
2006 modern 45 #34,491
2007 modern 45 #34,699
2008 modern 52 #34,381
2009 modern 64 #33,675
2010 modern 63 #34,002
2011 modern 79 #32,743
2012 modern 83 #32,611
2013 modern 90 #32,146
2014 modern 102 #30,714
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 130 #26,152

Geography

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Where Gregs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Putney, London parishes, Wilmslow and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing, Mid Sussex, Havering, Stockton-on-Tees and South Somerset. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Putney London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 1
4 Wilmslow Cheshire
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 021 Ealing
2 Mid Sussex 011 Mid Sussex
3 Havering 024 Havering
4 Stockton-on-Tees 011 Stockton-on-Tees
5 South Somerset 024 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Greg

These lists show first names that appear often with the Greg surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Greg

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Greg, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Greg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Greg household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Greg is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Greg is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Greg falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Greg is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Greg, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Greg

The surname Greg is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'grig' meaning 'a shepherd' or 'a watchman.' It is believed to have emerged in the 9th or 10th century, particularly in the regions of Northumbria and Mercia in northern and central England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Greg can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as 'Grig' or 'Gryg,' indicating its early presence in medieval England.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Greg was often associated with individuals who worked as shepherds or watchmen, reflecting its occupational origins. As time passed, the spelling evolved, and variations such as Gregg, Grigg, and Grygg emerged.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Greg was John Gregg, who served as the Mayor of Cambridge in 1268. Another prominent individual was Sir William Gregg, a knight who fought alongside Edward III in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War in 1346.

In the 16th century, the surname Greg gained further recognition with the birth of John Gregg (1544-1611), an English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial navigation and published several works on mathematics and astronomy.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Samuel Gregg (1652-1708), a British politician and writer. He served as a Member of Parliament and authored several political pamphlets and treatises during the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, William Gregg (1722-1798) was a prominent figure in the American Revolution. He served as a colonel in the Continental Army and played a crucial role in the defense of Charleston, South Carolina, during the Revolutionary War.

Over the centuries, the surname Greg has been associated with various place names and geographical locations in England, such as Gregmore, Gregmoor, and Gregenhoe, further reflecting its deep roots in the country's history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Greg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greg surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 19 Gregs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.49x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 19 1.49x
Surrey 17 3.25x
Cheshire 16 6.75x
Middlesex 15 1.40x
Midlothian 7 4.87x
Derbyshire 5 2.98x
Dumfriesshire 4 16.88x
Yorkshire 4 0.38x
Ayrshire 3 3.74x
Cumberland 3 3.25x
Lanarkshire 3 0.86x
Nottinghamshire 3 2.07x
Warwickshire 3 1.11x
Northumberland 2 1.25x
Berkshire 1 1.24x
Essex 1 0.47x
Glamorgan 1 0.54x
Gloucestershire 1 0.48x
Hampshire 1 0.45x
Royal Navy 1 7.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Putney in Surrey leads with 11 Gregs recorded in 1881 and an index of 224.95x.

Place Total Index
Putney 11 224.95x
Halton 8 2962.96x
Pownall Fee 8 754.72x
Acton 7 111.29x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 12.10x
Bollington In 5 236.97x
Heanor 5 199.20x
Kirkpatrick Juxta 4 1025.64x
Chorley In Macclesfield 3 416.67x
Kensington London 3 5.03x
Newark Upon Trent 3 57.69x
Rugby 3 81.97x
Wandsworth 3 29.04x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 20.86x
Chelsea London 2 6.19x
Govan 2 2.33x
Leeds 2 3.33x
Quernmore 2 952.38x
St George Hanover Square 2 10.58x
Wimbledon 2 34.07x
Allendale 1 67.57x
Aspatria 1 112.36x
Barnsley 1 9.12x
Barony 1 1.14x
Batley 1 9.89x
Blackburn 1 2.95x
Bray 1 42.19x
Camberwell 1 1.46x
Clifton 1 9.40x
Cockerham 1 303.03x
Dalry 1 26.46x
East Ham 1 25.45x
Hammersmith London 1 3.78x
Little Bolton 1 6.11x
Little Woolton 1 270.27x
Maybole 1 40.82x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 588.24x
Ochiltree 1 181.82x
Parbold 1 500.00x
Roath 1 11.78x
Ryde 1 21.19x
Torpenhow Whitrigg 1 1000.00x
Walton On Hill 1 14.49x
West Derby 1 2.68x
West Newton Allonby 1 312.50x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Greg surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Isabella 3
Alice 2
Beatrice 2
Catharine 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Sarah 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Beryl 1
Betty 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Elizh. 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Ida 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Katerine 1
Keziah 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Marion 1
Rebecca 1
Rosamond 1
Violet 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Greg surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 5
Henry 4
Thomas 4
Francis 2
George 2
Hugh 2
Percy 2
Walter 2
William 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Eustace 1
Fred 1
Gerald 1
Hen. 1
Herbert 1
Julian 1
Lestre 1
Lionel 1
Robert 1

FAQ

Greg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Greg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Greg surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Greg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016. That gives Greg a modern rank of #26,152.

What does the Greg surname mean?

A surname derived from the Greek personal name "Gregorios", meaning watchful or alert.

What does the Greg map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Greg bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.