NameCensus.

UK surname

Gresham

Habitational surname derived from a place in Norfolk, England, meaning "grazing homestead" or "grass enclosure."

In the 1881 census there were 331 people recorded with the Gresham surname, ranking it #9,071 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 723, ranked #7,514, up from #9,071 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, St John Hackney and Branston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston, Bassetlaw and North Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gresham is 744 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 118.4%.

1881 census count

331

Ranked #9,071

Modern count

723

2016, ranked #7,514

Peak year

2013

744 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gresham had 331 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,071 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 723 in 2016, ranked #7,514.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 528 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gresham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gresham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gresham 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 227 #9,448
1861 historical 214 #11,365
1881 historical 331 #9,071
1891 historical 381 #9,213
1901 historical 500 #8,060
1911 historical 528 #7,519
1997 modern 724 #7,055
1998 modern 727 #7,270
1999 modern 742 #7,208
2000 modern 720 #7,349
2001 modern 714 #7,250
2002 modern 740 #7,180
2003 modern 708 #7,309
2004 modern 700 #7,400
2005 modern 705 #7,297
2006 modern 710 #7,273
2007 modern 720 #7,271
2008 modern 711 #7,390
2009 modern 721 #7,460
2010 modern 735 #7,487
2011 modern 710 #7,615
2012 modern 723 #7,435
2013 modern 744 #7,395
2014 modern 739 #7,469
2015 modern 739 #7,400
2016 modern 723 #7,514

Geography

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Where Greshams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, St John Hackney, Branston, West Derby and Washingborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston, Bassetlaw and North Kesteven. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
3 Branston Lincolnshire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Washingborough Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 001 Boston
2 Bassetlaw 001 Bassetlaw
3 Bassetlaw 004 Bassetlaw
4 North Kesteven 006 North Kesteven
5 Bassetlaw 005 Bassetlaw

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gresham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gresham

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Gresham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gresham 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gresham is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Gresham is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gresham falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gresham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gresham

The surname Gresham originates from England and dates back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "græs" meaning grass and "ham" meaning a homestead or settlement. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a grassy meadow or pasture.

The earliest known recording of the surname Gresham appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Gresham" and "Gresseham." This suggests the name was already established in various parts of England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Many early instances of the Gresham surname can be traced back to the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia. There are several villages and parishes in these regions that bear the name Gresham, indicating the name's strong historical ties to the area.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the Gresham surname was William de Gresham, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1199. Another notable figure was Sir John Gresham (c. 1495-1556), a wealthy merchant and financier who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1547.

Sir Thomas Gresham (c. 1519-1579), a prominent English merchant and financier, is perhaps the most famous historical bearer of the Gresham surname. He founded the Royal Exchange in London and played a crucial role in establishing England's financial system.

Other notable individuals with the Gresham surname include:

1. Reginald Gresham (c. 1520-1573), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. George Gresham (1569-1649), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. 3. Marmaduke Gresham (1603-1668), an English landowner and philanthropist who established the Gresham Almshouses in Norfolk. 4. Walter Gresham (1650-1718), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for the borough of Great Yarmouth. 5. Sir John Gresham (1747-1820), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

The Gresham surname has also given rise to various place names, such as Gresham in Norfolk and Gresham College in London, founded in 1597 on the instructions of Sir Thomas Gresham's will.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gresham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gresham 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. Lincolnshire leads with 100 Greshams recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.37x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 100 19.37x
Yorkshire 71 2.22x
Lancashire 41 1.07x
Middlesex 34 1.05x
Nottinghamshire 19 4.37x
Lanarkshire 12 1.15x
Surrey 8 0.51x
Bedfordshire 6 3.59x
Durham 6 0.62x
Essex 6 0.94x
Kent 6 0.54x
Rutland 5 21.09x
Derbyshire 4 0.79x
Cheshire 2 0.28x
Hampshire 2 0.30x
Suffolk 2 0.51x
Sussex 2 0.37x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.77x
Hertfordshire 1 0.45x
Midlothian 1 0.23x
Warwickshire 1 0.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Derby in Lancashire leads with 27 Greshams recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.09x.

Place Total Index
West Derby 27 24.09x
Branston 14 886.08x
St Maryle Wigford 14 349.13x
Great Grimsby 12 36.62x
Hackney London 12 6.63x
Holy Trinity 10 12.99x
Gainsborough 9 73.95x
Maryhill 9 44.03x
Newark Upon Trent 9 57.54x
Horton In Bradford 8 16.01x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 33.98x
St Botolph Lincoln 7 188.68x
Cottingham 6 86.96x
Darlington 6 16.18x
Islington London 6 1.92x
Long Riston 6 1463.41x
St Nicholas Lincoln 6 121.70x
Bethnal Green London 5 3.56x
Doncaster 5 21.40x
Hutton Le Hole 5 1666.67x
Liverpool 5 2.15x
Sheffield 5 4.91x
Shefford 5 420.17x
St Swithin Lincoln 5 61.58x
Washingborough 5 617.28x
Bromley 4 23.82x
Hampstead London 4 7.96x
Hucknall Under 4 178.57x
Metheringham 4 194.17x
Skelton In Guisbrough 4 46.24x
South Weald 4 73.26x
Southwark St Saviour 4 24.11x
West Fen 4 1111.11x
Whissendine 4 493.83x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 4.61x
Mansfield 3 19.92x
Mere 3 2500.00x
St Mark Lincoln 3 272.73x
Stretford 3 14.23x
Waddington 3 319.15x
Bardney 2 129.87x
Brighton 2 1.82x
Derby All Sts 2 47.39x
Ilketshall St Andrew 2 384.62x
Kensington London 2 1.11x
Lambeth 2 0.71x
Lewisham 2 3.40x
Newton 2 6.77x
Wilton In Guisbrough 2 139.86x
Withington 2 16.21x
Ancaster 1 138.89x
Bingley 1 4.91x
Birmingham 1 0.37x
Carlton In Selby 1 120.48x
Chelsea London 1 1.03x
Chigwell 1 16.61x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.64x
Claines 1 8.64x
Clee With Weelsby 1 8.85x
Derby St Werburgh 1 3.43x
Fryerning 1 128.21x
Glasgow 1 0.54x
Kingsclere 1 33.11x
Leeds 1 0.55x
Libberton 1 144.93x
Liscard 1 7.79x
Macclesfield 1 3.16x
Mareham Le Fen 1 123.46x
North Cave Drewton 1 79.37x
Northowram 1 4.46x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.89x
Paddington London 1 0.84x
Pleasley 1 78.74x
Skircoat 1 7.92x
St George Martyr London 1 15.29x
St Martin Lincoln 1 20.88x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 1 13.77x
St Peterin Eastgate 1 62.50x
Stapleford 1 28.33x
Welburn In Helmsley 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 7
Jane 7
Ann 6
Emma 6
Edith 5
Fanny 5
Lucy 5
Anne 4
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Anna 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Isabella 3
Sarah 3
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Dora 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Jo. 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Almona 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.M. 1
Emily 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Henry 1
Hilda 1
Janet 1
Katherine 1
Lillie 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
Charles 13
James 13
Thomas 12
George 11
John 10
Joseph 8
Robert 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Henry 4
Frederick 3
Geo. 3
Joshua 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
Afred 1
Albert 1
Bertie 1
Bromby 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Harwood 1
Joe.H. 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Saml. 1
Stanley 1
Stuart 1
Thomsa 1
Thos. 1
W.J. 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Wm.Durie 1

FAQ

Gresham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gresham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 331 people were recorded with the Gresham surname. That placed it at #9,071 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gresham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 723 in 2016. That gives Gresham a modern rank of #7,514.

What does the Gresham surname mean?

Habitational surname derived from a place in Norfolk, England, meaning "grazing homestead" or "grass enclosure."

What does the Gresham map show?

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