UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from the Old French word "greve" meaning "gravel bank".
In the 1881 census there were 412 people recorded with the Greive surname, ranking it #7,814 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #7,814 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Markinch, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greive is 508 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 93.7%.
1881 census count
412
Ranked #7,814
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1851
508 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Greive surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Greive surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 508 | #4,924 |
| 1861 | historical | 455 | #5,698 |
| 1881 | historical | 412 | #7,814 |
| 1891 | historical | 367 | #9,486 |
| 1901 | historical | 422 | #9,128 |
| 1911 | historical | 44 | #28,454 |
| 1997 | modern | 53 | #32,329 |
| 1998 | modern | 53 | #32,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 58 | #32,268 |
| 2000 | modern | 48 | #33,288 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 45 | #33,803 |
| 2004 | modern | 43 | #34,149 |
| 2005 | modern | 45 | #34,160 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 36 | #35,278 |
| 2008 | modern | 35 | #35,441 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 32 | #35,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 30 | #35,949 |
| 2012 | modern | 28 | #36,048 |
| 2013 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2014 | modern | 29 | #36,058 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Markinch, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Markinch | Fife |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Greive surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Greive, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Greive surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Greive household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Greive is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Greive is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Greive, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Greive" is thought to have originated in Scotland in the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the lands of Greive, near Dalkeith in Midlothian. The name is also found in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in Berwickshire.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it is spelled "Greve". This document lists Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England during his invasion of Scotland. The name is also found in various medieval charters and records from the 14th and 15th centuries, often spelled as "Grieve" or "Greive".
The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "gerefa", which means a steward or overseer of lands. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have held positions of authority on estates or manors in Scotland.
In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Greive was John Greive, a scholar and clergyman who was born in Dalkeith around 1530. He became the Rector of Dunbar and was involved in the Scottish Reformation.
Another prominent individual with this name was Sir Samuel Greig (1735-1788), a Scottish-Russian admiral who served in the Imperial Russian Navy. He was born in Inverkeithing, Fife, and had a successful naval career, rising to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in the Russian service.
In the 19th century, Sir Edward Greive (1835-1888) was a Scottish businessman and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1874 to 1877. He was also a Member of Parliament for Edinburgh from 1885 until his death.
Another notable figure with the surname Greive was John Greive (1837-1911), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1880 to 1892.
William Greive (1871-1949) was a Scottish-born Australian trade union leader and politician. He was the President of the Australian Workers' Union from 1917 to 1949 and played a significant role in the labor movement in Australia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greive surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Midlothian leads with 68 Greives recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Midlothian | 68 | 12.88x |
| Lanarkshire | 51 | 4.00x |
| Angus | 50 | 13.69x |
| Fife | 38 | 16.29x |
| Durham | 21 | 1.79x |
| Aberdeenshire | 18 | 4.93x |
| Renfrewshire | 17 | 5.57x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 0.36x |
| Selkirkshire | 13 | 36.47x |
| East Lothian | 12 | 22.99x |
| Perthshire | 12 | 6.78x |
| Inverness-shire | 9 | 7.65x |
| Argyllshire | 8 | 7.29x |
| Dunbartonshire | 8 | 7.55x |
| Northumberland | 8 | 1.36x |
| Roxburghshire | 8 | 11.21x |
| Banffshire | 6 | 7.34x |
| Cumberland | 6 | 1.77x |
| Kincardineshire | 6 | 12.50x |
| Berwickshire | 5 | 10.48x |
| Dumfriesshire | 5 | 5.74x |
| Kent | 4 | 0.30x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.09x |
| Monmouthshire | 4 | 1.40x |
| Morayshire | 2 | 3.27x |
| Pembrokeshire | 2 | 1.60x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 0.34x |
| Clackmannanshire | 1 | 3.07x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.12x |
| Orkney | 1 | 2.31x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.03x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 24 Greives recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.30x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 24 | 11.30x |
| Barony | 23 | 7.13x |
| Dundee | 22 | 16.14x |
| South Leith | 11 | 18.52x |
| New Machar | 9 | 439.02x |
| Dalkeith | 8 | 76.78x |
| Dalserf | 8 | 62.89x |
| Hylton | 8 | 386.47x |
| Oldhamstocks | 8 | 1038.96x |
| Row | 8 | 58.39x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 7 | 6.96x |
| Hackney London | 7 | 3.17x |
| Kinghorn | 7 | 141.41x |
| Melrose | 7 | 78.04x |
| Newtyle | 7 | 564.52x |
| Shotts | 7 | 45.90x |
| Castleton | 6 | 195.44x |
| Edinburgh Buccleuch | 6 | 48.04x |
| Errol | 6 | 182.93x |
| Govan | 6 | 1.90x |
| Lismore Appin | 6 | 164.38x |
| Middleton In Teesdale | 6 | 194.17x |
| Penicuik | 6 | 83.68x |
| West Greenock | 6 | 10.94x |
| Abbey | 5 | 10.73x |
| Dysart | 5 | 31.83x |
| High Bolton | 5 | 1351.35x |
| Kingsbarns | 5 | 467.29x |
| Panbride | 5 | 263.16x |
| Rathven | 5 | 32.55x |
| Selkirk | 5 | 49.80x |
| Abergavenny | 4 | 37.49x |
| Edinburgh Old Church | 4 | 94.34x |
| Glasgow | 4 | 1.77x |
| Glenelg | 4 | 185.19x |
| Kilbarchan | 4 | 43.10x |
| Kirkcaldy | 4 | 34.57x |
| Lewisham | 4 | 5.58x |
| Mains | 4 | 129.03x |
| Pittenweem | 4 | 138.89x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 1.26x |
| Tinwald | 4 | 344.83x |
| Barra | 3 | 102.04x |
| Cupar | 3 | 29.56x |
| Hammersmith London | 3 | 3.09x |
| Hartley | 3 | 192.31x |
| Laurencekirk | 3 | 107.91x |
| Liff Benvie | 3 | 5.41x |
| West Derby | 3 | 2.19x |
| Westruther | 3 | 329.67x |
| Whitekirk Tynninghame | 3 | 209.79x |
| Ayton | 2 | 72.20x |
| Bendochy | 2 | 208.33x |
| Brechin | 2 | 13.94x |
| Comrie | 2 | 79.05x |
| Edinburgh Old | 2 | 62.50x |
| Edinburgh St Marys | 2 | 19.49x |
| Forfar | 2 | 10.12x |
| Haltwhistle | 2 | 70.18x |
| Inveresk | 2 | 14.00x |
| Kennoway | 2 | 94.34x |
| Kilconquhar | 2 | 71.94x |
| Markinch | 2 | 25.25x |
| North Leith | 2 | 8.19x |
| Pembroke St Mary | 2 | 12.40x |
| Port Glasgow | 2 | 13.55x |
| Rothes | 2 | 66.89x |
| Aberdour | 1 | 34.72x |
| Banchory Ternan | 1 | 24.10x |
| Carmyllie | 1 | 64.10x |
| Daviot | 1 | 144.93x |
| Dollar | 1 | 29.67x |
| Galashiels | 1 | 7.59x |
| Garvock | 1 | 172.41x |
| Hawick | 1 | 6.26x |
| Kilmallie | 1 | 17.73x |
| Leeds | 1 | 0.45x |
| Morpeth | 1 | 14.51x |
| Perth Middle Church | 1 | 15.04x |
| Strath | 1 | 27.93x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Greive surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Greive surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Greive households.
FAQ
In 1881, 412 people were recorded with the Greive surname. That placed it at #7,814 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Greive a modern rank of #36,254.
A Scottish surname derived from the Old French word "greve" meaning "gravel bank".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Greive bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.