NameCensus.

UK surname

Gribbin

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Gríobhtháin, meaning "descendant of Gríobhthán", a personal name of uncertain meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 316 people recorded with the Gribbin surname, ranking it #9,375 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 757, ranked #7,230, up from #9,375 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, St Agnes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster, Copeland and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gribbin is 794 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 139.6%.

1881 census count

316

Ranked #9,375

Modern count

757

2016, ranked #7,230

Peak year

2010

794 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gribbin had 316 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,375 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 757 in 2016, ranked #7,230.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 449 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Gribbin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gribbin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gribbin 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 247 #8,868
1861 historical 255 #9,699
1881 historical 316 #9,375
1891 historical 415 #8,610
1901 historical 449 #8,717
1911 historical 437 #8,698
1997 modern 698 #7,262
1998 modern 742 #7,161
1999 modern 741 #7,220
2000 modern 737 #7,207
2001 modern 728 #7,134
2002 modern 761 #7,035
2003 modern 733 #7,129
2004 modern 727 #7,181
2005 modern 722 #7,151
2006 modern 754 #6,957
2007 modern 742 #7,117
2008 modern 743 #7,152
2009 modern 774 #7,071
2010 modern 794 #7,070
2011 modern 766 #7,183
2012 modern 744 #7,275
2013 modern 770 #7,192
2014 modern 772 #7,196
2015 modern 769 #7,160
2016 modern 757 #7,230

Geography

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Where Gribbins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, St Agnes, Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lancaster, Copeland, Salford, Kilsyth East and Croy and Kilsyth Bogside. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 St Agnes Cornwall
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lancaster 011 Lancaster
2 Copeland 006 Copeland
3 Salford 028 Salford
4 Kilsyth East and Croy North Lanarkshire
5 Kilsyth Bogside North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gribbin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gribbin

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gribbin 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

Gribbin is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gribbin 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 Gribbin 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Gribbin

The surname Gribbin has its origins in Ireland, where it first appeared in the early 11th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "gribín," which means "griffin" or "mythical beast." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was considered fierce or brave, akin to a griffin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gribbin can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1031, a man named Gribbin mac Fergail is mentioned as a participant in a battle against the Norse invaders.

In the centuries following, the Gribbin name spread across various regions of Ireland, particularly in counties such as Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo. The name also appeared in various spellings, including Gribbins, Gribben, and Gribbins.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Gribbin name gained prominence in Ulster, where several notable individuals bore the surname. One such figure was Brian Gribbin (1570-1634), a prominent landowner and military leader who fought alongside Hugh O'Neill during the Nine Years' War against English forces.

Another notable Gribbin was Niall Gribbin (1620-1691), a Catholic priest who played a significant role in preserving Irish language and culture during the Penal Laws. He was known for his teachings and writings, which helped keep the Irish language alive during a period of oppression.

In the 18th century, the Gribbin name made its way across the Atlantic to America, with many Irish immigrants settling in various parts of the colonies. One of the earliest recorded Gribbins in America was John Gribbin (1725-1799), a farmer and soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

As the centuries progressed, the Gribbin name continued to spread across Ireland, Great Britain, and the United States. Notable individuals bearing the surname include Robert Gribbin (1841-1924), an Irish-American politician and civil servant, and John Gribbin (born 1946), a British astrophysicist and science writer known for his popular science books.

While the Gribbin surname may have evolved from a nickname for a fierce individual, it has become a proud part of Irish heritage and history, with its bearers leaving their mark in various fields across the globe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gribbin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gribbin 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 126 Gribbins recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 126 3.33x
Lanarkshire 41 3.97x
Cornwall 27 7.48x
Cumberland 19 6.92x
Ayrshire 18 7.54x
Cheshire 17 2.41x
Northumberland 14 2.95x
Isle of Man 11 18.57x
Stirlingshire 11 9.35x
Yorkshire 10 0.32x
Durham 9 0.95x
Renfrewshire 6 2.43x
Dumfriesshire 4 5.68x
Midlothian 4 0.94x
Argyllshire 3 3.38x
Devon 1 0.15x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.17x
Kent 1 0.09x
Leicestershire 1 0.28x
Middlesex 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 2.63x
Sussex 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 31 Gribbins recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.21x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 31 18.21x
Govan 17 6.66x
St Agnes 13 256.92x
Barony 12 4.60x
Falkirk 11 39.94x
Onchan 11 64.48x
Toxteth Park 11 8.58x
West Derby 11 9.93x
Wigan 10 18.91x
Beith 9 126.40x
Chester St Mary On Hill 9 149.01x
Liverpool 9 3.91x
Whitehaven 8 54.64x
Ardwick 7 20.50x
Burnley 7 21.96x
Ebchester 7 476.19x
Everton 7 5.80x
Kirkdale 7 10.99x
Redruth 7 68.49x
Renfrew 6 73.53x
Glasgow 5 2.73x
Layton With Warbreck 5 36.00x
Leeds 5 2.80x
Longbenton 5 24.88x
Sale 5 57.87x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 13.58x
Byker 4 17.05x
Cheetham 4 14.17x
Dalmellington 4 56.98x
Illogan 4 41.84x
Over Darwen 4 13.23x
Preston Quarter 4 51.95x
West Calder 4 47.51x
Workington 4 25.45x
Applegarth 3 280.37x
Kea 3 111.52x
New Monkland 3 9.84x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 3 48.08x
Old Monkland 3 7.33x
Preston 3 2.96x
Ayr 2 17.75x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 6.65x
Cleator 2 17.50x
Durham St Nicholas 2 85.84x
Harpurhey 2 38.10x
Kilcalmonell 2 99.50x
Kirkoswald 2 102.56x
Prudhoe 2 60.61x
Salford 2 1.80x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.94x
Brighton 1 0.92x
Caldewgate 1 6.64x
Cambusnethan 1 4.36x
Campbeltown 1 9.34x
Cheadle 1 7.43x
Chester St Oswald 1 7.84x
Dumfries 1 14.39x
Gorton 1 2.81x
Hulme 1 1.27x
Kirkintilloch 1 8.58x
Leicester St Nicholas 1 50.00x
Linthorpe 1 5.30x
Moston 1 26.32x
Royal Navy 1 3.08x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.78x
St Quivox 1 12.39x
Tavistock 1 13.23x
Tonbridge 1 2.55x
Woodford 1 250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 10
Margaret 8
Elizabeth 7
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Alice 4
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Isabella 3
Jane 3
Annie 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Maggie 2
... 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Bridget 1
Cathe. 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Esther 1
Henrietta 1
Julia 1
Lilia 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lucidia 1
Mabel 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Mehalah 1
Metilda 1
Millie 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Rosy 1
Ruth 1
Theodosia 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 11
James 10
Thomas 9
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Peter 6
Henry 5
Harry 3
Patrick 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Hugh 2
Hy. 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfs 1
Chris 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Farquhar 1
Frank 1
Gordon 1
Jas. 1
Johnson 1
Matthew 1
Owen 1
Patr. 1
Paul 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Stanley 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Gribbin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gribbin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 316 people were recorded with the Gribbin surname. That placed it at #9,375 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gribbin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 757 in 2016. That gives Gribbin a modern rank of #7,230.

What does the Gribbin surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Gríobhtháin, meaning "descendant of Gríobhthán", a personal name of uncertain meaning.

What does the Gribbin map show?

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