NameCensus.

UK surname

Gridley

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "green meadow" or "glade."

In the 1881 census there were 480 people recorded with the Gridley surname, ranking it #6,976 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 620, ranked #8,494, down from #6,976 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, London parishes and Kingston-on-Thames. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Babergh, Taunton Deane and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gridley is 692 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.2%.

1881 census count

480

Ranked #6,976

Modern count

620

2016, ranked #8,494

Peak year

1911

692 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gridley had 480 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,976 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 620 in 2016, ranked #8,494.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 692 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gridley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gridley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gridley 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 287 #7,909
1861 historical 276 #9,052
1881 historical 480 #6,976
1891 historical 514 #7,262
1901 historical 634 #6,768
1911 historical 692 #6,137
1997 modern 658 #7,596
1998 modern 689 #7,572
1999 modern 675 #7,725
2000 modern 661 #7,833
2001 modern 646 #7,837
2002 modern 653 #7,915
2003 modern 648 #7,846
2004 modern 651 #7,828
2005 modern 633 #7,947
2006 modern 645 #7,853
2007 modern 641 #7,952
2008 modern 639 #8,020
2009 modern 643 #8,143
2010 modern 635 #8,398
2011 modern 629 #8,370
2012 modern 593 #8,688
2013 modern 616 #8,567
2014 modern 640 #8,366
2015 modern 640 #8,290
2016 modern 620 #8,494

Geography

Back to top

Where Gridleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, London parishes, Kingston-on-Thames 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 Babergh, Taunton Deane, Mid Suffolk, Purbeck and Lambeth. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Kingston-on-Thames Surrey
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Babergh 003 Babergh
2 Taunton Deane 005 Taunton Deane
3 Mid Suffolk 006 Mid Suffolk
4 Purbeck 002 Purbeck
5 Lambeth 021 Lambeth

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gridley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gridley

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Gridley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gridley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Gridley is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gridley 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

Gridley falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gridley 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 Gridley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gridley

The surname Gridley is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "gredian," which means "to cry" or "to shout." This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for a town crier or herald.

The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1199, where it is spelled "Gredley." This indicates that the name was likely established in the East Midlands region of England during the medieval period.

In the 13th century, the name is found in various records with different spellings, such as "Gredley," "Grydley," and "Grydeleye." These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and the influence of different regional dialects.

The name Gridley is also associated with several place names in England, such as Gridley in Staffordshire, which was recorded as "Gridelei" in the Domesday Book of 1086. This suggests that the surname may have originated from a place name in some cases.

One notable bearer of the name was Richard Gridley (1711-1796), an American engineer and artillery officer who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was responsible for fortifying Breed's Hill and directing the artillery during the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775.

Another significant figure with the surname Gridley was Asahel Gridley (1810-1881), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 13th Attorney General of Ohio from 1859 to 1861.

In the 19th century, the name Gridley gained prominence with the birth of Charles Vernon Gridley (1844-1898), a United States Navy officer who played a crucial role in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions.

Richard Gridley (1867-1950), an American architect, was also a notable bearer of the name. He designed several prominent buildings in Washington, D.C., including the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the Hay-Adams Hotel.

Lastly, Erwin Gridley (1904-1980), an American engineer and inventor, made significant contributions to the development of aircraft landing gear systems and is considered a pioneer in his field.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gridley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gridley 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. Surrey leads with 109 Gridleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.79x.

County Total Index
Surrey 109 4.79x
Middlesex 92 1.97x
Suffolk 78 13.71x
Essex 57 6.18x
Kent 44 2.76x
Gloucestershire 26 2.84x
Somerset 21 2.79x
Norfolk 10 1.39x
Sussex 8 1.02x
Cornwall 7 1.32x
Yorkshire 7 0.15x
Staffordshire 6 0.38x
Derbyshire 5 0.68x
Lancashire 3 0.05x
Berkshire 1 0.29x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.34x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Lanarkshire 1 0.07x
Leicestershire 1 0.19x
Northamptonshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glemsford in Suffolk leads with 26 Gridleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 650.00x.

Place Total Index
Glemsford 26 650.00x
Streatham 23 66.34x
Greenwich 20 26.89x
Lambeth 20 4.91x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 18 20.86x
Long Melford 18 340.26x
Kingston On Thames 17 31.08x
Battersea 16 9.31x
Maldon St Peter 15 319.15x
St Pancras London 15 3.99x
North Curry 13 507.81x
Richmond 12 37.62x
St George Hanover Square 12 14.58x
Deptford St Paul 10 8.13x
Belstead 9 1764.71x
South Mimms 9 140.41x
Cockfield 8 536.91x
Falmouth 7 37.39x
Hampton Wick London 7 204.68x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 7 32.45x
Southchurch 7 823.53x
St George Bloomsbury 7 26.11x
Ballingdon Cum Brundon 6 512.82x
Bristol St Michael 6 76.34x
Fivehead 6 895.52x
Hornsey 6 10.15x
Lewisham 6 7.06x
Maldon St Marys 6 271.49x
Newington 6 47.06x
Southwark Christchurch 6 27.41x
Southwick 6 143.88x
Wolverhampton 6 4.95x
Burnham 5 146.63x
Foxearth 5 781.25x
Measham 5 185.87x
North Weald Bassett 5 312.50x
Shoreditch London 5 2.47x
St Marylebone London 5 2.00x
Stansfield 5 757.58x
Hackney London 4 1.53x
Kensington London 4 1.54x
Acton 3 10.95x
Bradfield Combust 3 1200.00x
Dagenham 3 54.64x
Egham 3 21.46x
Hammersmith London 3 2.61x
Hundon 3 211.27x
Mile End Old Town London 3 3.02x
Norwich St Stephen 3 45.52x
Putney 3 14.08x
Bermondsey 2 1.44x
Clapham 2 3.42x
Islington London 2 0.44x
Paddington London 2 1.16x
Sittingbourne 2 15.89x
Stanningfield 2 465.12x
Windle 2 6.41x
Bowling 1 2.18x
Bradfield St Clare 1 250.00x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.27x
Chatham 1 2.28x
Cheriton 1 15.38x
Chiswick 1 3.92x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 6.27x
Leicester St Margaret 1 0.79x
Liverpool 1 0.30x
Minster In Thanet 1 30.12x
Monken Hadley 1 53.48x
Mortlake 1 9.85x
Rettendon 1 86.96x
Rochester St Margaret 1 5.95x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.06x
Spitalfields London 1 2.85x
Stanstead 1 166.67x
Stapleford 1 111.11x
Stonehouse 1 19.19x
Wandsworth 1 2.22x
Wilton 1 51.02x
Winchelsea St Thomas 1 102.04x
Winwick In Daventry 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 15
Emily 12
Annie 11
Emma 10
Eliza 9
Ellen 9
Alice 7
Charlotte 7
Ann 6
Ada 5
Jane 5
Jessie 5
Maria 5
Edith 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Julia 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Fanny 3
Rosa 3
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Flora 2
Florence 2
Mahala 2
Minnie 2
Polly 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Annette 1
Ansley 1
Arremitta 1
Cynthia 1
Eleanor 1
Elinor 1
Elizebeth 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Jesse 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
George 20
Joseph 12
Charles 11
Henry 10
John 10
Alfred 9
Samuel 8
Edward 7
James 7
Walter 7
Abraham 6
Frederick 6
Daniel 5
Thomas 5
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Frank 2
Wm. 2
Arnold 1
Benjiman 1
Chas. 1
Daniell 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Ezra 1
Geo. 1
Georges 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Julian 1
King 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Oscar 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Salmon 1
Saml. 1
Sarah 1
Sheppard 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Gridley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gridley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 480 people were recorded with the Gridley surname. That placed it at #6,976 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gridley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 620 in 2016. That gives Gridley a modern rank of #8,494.

What does the Gridley surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "green meadow" or "glade."

What does the Gridley map show?

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