NameCensus.

UK surname

Grenfell

A surname derived from an Old French word meaning "great fire" or "great blaze".

In the 1881 census there were 499 people recorded with the Grenfell surname, ranking it #6,784 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 656, ranked #8,116, down from #6,784 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Paul, Gwennap and Dalton-in-Furness. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Strutherhill and Carluke East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grenfell is 695 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.5%.

1881 census count

499

Ranked #6,784

Modern count

656

2016, ranked #8,116

Peak year

2002

695 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grenfell had 499 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,784 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 656 in 2016, ranked #8,116.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 590 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Grenfell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grenfell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Grenfell 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 478 #5,213
1861 historical 414 #6,200
1881 historical 499 #6,784
1891 historical 528 #7,101
1901 historical 590 #7,155
1911 historical 558 #7,202
1997 modern 680 #7,410
1998 modern 694 #7,523
1999 modern 674 #7,733
2000 modern 671 #7,742
2001 modern 654 #7,763
2002 modern 695 #7,556
2003 modern 692 #7,449
2004 modern 672 #7,654
2005 modern 661 #7,679
2006 modern 651 #7,790
2007 modern 649 #7,873
2008 modern 657 #7,851
2009 modern 651 #8,057
2010 modern 679 #7,965
2011 modern 655 #8,104
2012 modern 655 #8,030
2013 modern 669 #8,021
2014 modern 666 #8,096
2015 modern 657 #8,121
2016 modern 656 #8,116

Geography

Back to top

Where Grenfells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Paul, Gwennap, Dalton-in-Furness, St Just and Madron. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Strutherhill, Carluke East and Swansea. 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 Paul Cornwall
2 Gwennap Cornwall
3 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
4 St Just Cornwall
5 Madron Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 069 Cornwall
2 Strutherhill South Lanarkshire
3 Carluke East South Lanarkshire
4 Swansea 015 Swansea
5 Cornwall 046 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Grenfell

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Grenfell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Grenfell, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Grenfell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Grenfell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Grenfell is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grenfell is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grenfell falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grenfell 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Grenfell

The surname Grenfell originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the town of Greenfield in the county of Lincolnshire, which was recorded as "Grenefelde" in the Domesday Book of 1086.

The name Grenfell is thought to have originated from the Old English words "grene," meaning green, and "feld," meaning field, thus signifying a green field or meadow. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have resided in or near a verdant field or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Grenfell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire in 1195, where it appears as "Willelmus de Grenefelde." This entry suggests that the name had already been established as a hereditary surname by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Grenefelde," "Grenfeld," and "Grenefeld," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that era.

Notable individuals with the surname Grenfell throughout history include Sir Wilfred Grenfell (1865-1940), a medical missionary who established hospitals and nursing stations in Newfoundland and Labrador. Another prominent figure was Sir Francis Wallace Grenfell (1880-1925), a British army officer who served in both World Wars and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

In the realm of literature, Julian Grenfell (1888-1915), an English poet and soldier, gained recognition for his war poetry during World War I. His cousin, Joyce Grenfell (1910-1979), was an accomplished actress, comedienne, and author, known for her witty performances and books.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Hubert Maxwell Grenfell (1876-1915), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the development of the Royal Australian Navy and served as the First Naval Member of the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board.

While the surname Grenfell has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, due to immigration and migration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Grenfell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grenfell 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. Cornwall leads with 308 Grenfells recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.56x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 308 55.56x
Middlesex 37 0.76x
Lancashire 29 0.50x
Glamorgan 20 2.35x
Devon 18 1.77x
Lanarkshire 12 0.76x
Cumberland 11 2.61x
Staffordshire 11 0.67x
Gloucestershire 9 0.94x
Surrey 5 0.21x
Warwickshire 5 0.40x
Hampshire 4 0.40x
Yorkshire 4 0.08x
Brecknockshire 3 3.06x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.01x
Cheshire 3 0.28x
Royal Navy 3 5.14x
Westmorland 3 2.79x
Montgomeryshire 2 1.78x
Sussex 2 0.24x
Berkshire 1 0.27x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.51x
Dorset 1 0.31x
Kent 1 0.06x
Leicestershire 1 0.18x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x
Orkney 1 1.86x
Oxfordshire 1 0.33x
Wiltshire 1 0.23x
Worcestershire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Just In Penwith in Cornwall leads with 132 Grenfells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1226.77x.

Place Total Index
St Just In Penwith 132 1226.77x
St Ives 50 460.83x
Madron Penzance 43 213.29x
Madron 22 491.07x
Dalton In Furness 18 80.25x
St George Hanover Square 18 20.86x
St John Near Swansea 14 132.83x
Dalserf 12 75.95x
Paul 9 89.37x
Illogan 8 54.50x
Gulval 7 196.08x
Rugeley 7 59.02x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 6.64x
Calstock 6 55.20x
Exeter St Olave 6 454.55x
Exeter St Thomas The 6 57.75x
Gwennap 6 57.36x
Hampton London 6 74.53x
Salter Eskat 6 1818.18x
Arlecdon 5 44.60x
Osmotherley 5 632.91x
St Luke London 5 6.37x
Alverstoke 4 11.01x
Camberwell 4 1.28x
Fulham London 4 5.63x
Kenwyn 4 27.59x
Ludgvan 4 90.50x
Pennington In Ulverston 4 138.41x
Saddleworth 4 10.69x
Sancreed 4 254.78x
Swansea St Thomas 4 46.67x
Zennor 4 392.16x
Clifton 3 6.18x
Crickhowell 3 132.74x
Eton 3 44.71x
Great Neston 3 84.03x
Littleham 3 40.27x
Patterdale 3 252.10x
Royal Navy 3 6.01x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.71x
Sutton Coldfield 3 23.11x
Leamington Priors 2 6.58x
Llangurig 2 74.07x
Llantrisant 2 9.31x
Manaccan 2 333.33x
Preston 2 1.29x
Uckfield 2 55.56x
Westminster St James 2 3.97x
Buckland West 1 161.29x
Cowley 1 10.59x
Falmouth 1 5.10x
Fonthill Gifford 1 125.00x
Harborne 1 1.89x
Hornsey 1 1.62x
Llysfaen 1 48.31x
Mareham Le Fen 1 81.30x
Minster In Sheppey 1 3.61x
Mortlake 1 9.41x
New Windsor 1 8.09x
Phillack 1 13.97x
Probus 1 44.05x
Redruth 1 6.38x
Seals 1 52.36x
Sennen 1 81.30x
Sherborne 1 10.56x
Silverton 1 47.17x
St Agnes 1 12.89x
St Gluvias 1 32.26x
St Pancras London 1 0.25x
Stoke Damerel 1 1.40x
Stourbridge 1 6.08x
Stromness 1 24.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Elizabeth 31
Jane 20
Margaret 9
Annie 8
Eliza 8
Sarah 8
Grace 6
Alice 5
Clara 4
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Ann 3
Catherine 3
Constance 3
Hannah 3
Matilda 3
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Bessie 2
Charity 2
Clarinda 2
Ellen 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Honor 2
Katie 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
Nanny 2
Amy 1
Blanche 1
C.Jane 1
Delphia 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliabeth 1
Elizbth.Helen 1
Elizebeth 1
Fanny 1
Florita 1
Frances 1
Georgiana 1
Georgina 1
Honer 1
Huberta 1
Wilmot 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 40
William 33
Richard 20
Thomas 17
Henry 13
James 11
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Pascoe 5
Ernest 4
George 4
Nicholas 4
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Sidney 3
Thos. 3
Alexander 2
Cecil 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Wm.John 2
Albert 1
Algernon 1
Anthony 1
Antony 1
Bevie 1
Bowen 1
Claud 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Gaberiel 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Hedley 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Johnson 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Ralph 1
Rd. 1
Reginald 1
Rivendile 1
Robert 1
Roersdale 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Grenfell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grenfell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 499 people were recorded with the Grenfell surname. That placed it at #6,784 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grenfell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 656 in 2016. That gives Grenfell a modern rank of #8,116.

What does the Grenfell surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old French word meaning "great fire" or "great blaze".

What does the Grenfell map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grenfell 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.