NameCensus.

UK surname

Grieves

An occupational surname referring to a keeper of the king's forests or woods.

In the 1881 census there were 740 people recorded with the Grieves surname, ranking it #4,951 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,111, ranked #5,290, down from #4,951 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Tyneside, Northumberland and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grieves is 1,196 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.1%.

1881 census count

740

Ranked #4,951

Modern count

1,111

2016, ranked #5,290

Peak year

2010

1,196 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grieves had 740 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,951 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,111 in 2016, ranked #5,290.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,022 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Grieves surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grieves surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grieves 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 389 #6,177
1861 historical 348 #7,339
1881 historical 740 #4,951
1891 historical 765 #5,218
1901 historical 1,005 #4,741
1911 historical 1,022 #4,467
1997 modern 1,146 #4,896
1998 modern 1,151 #5,053
1999 modern 1,156 #5,084
2000 modern 1,148 #5,081
2001 modern 1,121 #5,086
2002 modern 1,143 #5,115
2003 modern 1,125 #5,079
2004 modern 1,112 #5,139
2005 modern 1,097 #5,140
2006 modern 1,101 #5,142
2007 modern 1,135 #5,049
2008 modern 1,142 #5,052
2009 modern 1,189 #4,971
2010 modern 1,196 #5,057
2011 modern 1,151 #5,175
2012 modern 1,120 #5,207
2013 modern 1,136 #5,227
2014 modern 1,139 #5,242
2015 modern 1,117 #5,287
2016 modern 1,111 #5,290

Geography

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Where Grieves' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Long Benton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Tyneside, Northumberland and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Long Benton Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Tyneside 009 South Tyneside
2 Northumberland 020 Northumberland
3 Sunderland 003 Sunderland
4 South Tyneside 006 South Tyneside
5 Northumberland 030 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grieves

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grieves

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Grieves, 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 Grieves surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Grieves 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Grieves 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

Grieves is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grieves 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 Grieves 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 Grieves, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Grieves

The surname Grieves has its origins in the northern English counties of Northumberland and Durham, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "grēfe," meaning "grove" or "thicket," which suggests that the earliest bearers of this name lived near or worked in forested areas.

The name Grieves first appeared in historical records in 1279, when a certain William Greve was listed in the Assize Court Rolls of Northumberland. It's believed that this early spelling variation, Greve, evolved into Grieves over time due to regional dialects and spelling variations common in medieval England.

In the 14th century, the name Grieves appeared in several manorial records, such as the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1347, where a John de Greves was mentioned. This record indicates that the name may have also been associated with certain locations or manors bearing similar names.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Grieves was John Grieves, a merchant from Newcastle upon Tyne, who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in the city's historical records, suggesting that the name had spread from its northern English origins to urban centers.

In the 16th century, the name Grieves appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where a Thomas Greves was recorded as a landowner in 1543. This further solidifies the connection between the name and the northern English region.

During the 17th century, the name Grieves gained prominence in Scotland, particularly in the Borders region. One notable figure was James Grieves, a Scottish minister who was born in Melrose in 1628 and served as the minister of Torphichen from 1658 until his death in 1685.

In the 18th century, the Grieves surname appeared in various parish records across northern England and Scotland. One notable individual was William Grieves, a renowned clockmaker from Whitehaven, Cumbria, who was born in 1718 and gained recognition for his intricate timepieces.

The 19th century saw the name Grieves spread across the British Isles and beyond, as individuals bearing this surname emigrated to various parts of the world. One notable figure was Andrew Grieves, a Scottish-born Australian explorer and surveyor, who was born in 1826 and played a significant role in mapping the Australian outback.

Overall, the surname Grieves has a rich history rooted in the northern English counties of Northumberland and Durham, with connections to the Old English word "grēfe" and associations with forested areas. It has been documented in historical records since the 13th century and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grieves families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grieves 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. Durham leads with 274 Grieves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.59x.

County Total Index
Durham 274 12.59x
Northumberland 207 19.02x
Middlesex 50 0.68x
Lancashire 34 0.39x
Cumberland 28 4.45x
Yorkshire 24 0.33x
Surrey 18 0.50x
Perthshire 16 4.87x
Derbyshire 14 1.22x
Channel Islands 10 4.61x
Kent 9 0.36x
Norfolk 9 0.80x
Shropshire 9 1.42x
Warwickshire 8 0.43x
Midlothian 7 0.71x
Dorset 5 1.04x
Fife 4 0.92x
Berkshire 3 0.55x
Cardiganshire 3 1.68x
Cornwall 3 0.36x
Huntingdonshire 3 2.07x
Merionethshire 2 1.49x
Northamptonshire 2 0.29x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Leicestershire 1 0.12x
Lincolnshire 1 0.09x
Suffolk 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.08x
West Lothian 1 0.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westoe in Durham leads with 66 Grieves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.49x.

Place Total Index
Westoe 66 53.49x
Bishopwearmouth 32 17.13x
Dawdon 23 85.92x
Chirton 22 89.32x
Elswick 21 24.17x
Bedlington 20 55.02x
Liverpool 20 3.79x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 17 18.03x
Newcastle On Tyne St 17 30.13x
Gateshead 16 9.82x
North Seaton 16 350.11x
Staveley 14 68.86x
Lambeth 13 2.04x
Longbenton 12 26.03x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 12 18.46x
St Marylebone London 12 3.07x
Tynemouth 12 20.58x
Westgate 12 17.80x
Wingate 12 80.43x
St Pancras London 11 1.87x
St Peter Port 10 24.94x
Ludlow St Lawrence 9 71.60x
Perth West Church 9 57.77x
Southwick 9 43.67x
Sunderland 9 23.41x
Birmingham 8 1.30x
Chilton 8 117.82x
Coundon 8 90.70x
Monkwearmouth 8 38.41x
Potter Newton 8 62.55x
Scarborough 8 12.14x
South Shields 8 41.26x
Aspatria 7 115.51x
Byker 7 13.01x
Hammersmith London 7 3.88x
Hepscott 7 1320.75x
Perth Middle Church 7 56.68x
Sherburn 7 105.74x
Wallsend 7 20.28x
West Rudham 7 593.22x
Auckland St Helen 6 262.01x
Brancepeth 6 151.90x
Bromley London 6 3.73x
Burradon In Tynemouth 6 215.83x
Cowpen 6 23.93x
Farlam 6 151.52x
Hampstead London 6 5.27x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 14.12x
North Shields 6 27.62x
Rothbury 6 191.69x
Alnwick 5 26.72x
Caldewgate 5 14.49x
Cassop 5 333.33x
Coxlodge 5 60.39x
Newton In Makerfield 5 18.81x
Toxteth Park 5 1.70x
Dunfermline 4 6.01x
Stalbridge 4 87.72x
Wetheral 4 47.96x
Cwmrheidol 3 105.26x
Duddingston 3 15.25x
Great Lumley 3 80.43x
Houghton Le Spring 3 19.93x
Lamesley 3 25.60x
Lewisham 3 2.25x
Orton Longville 3 461.54x
Sandwith 3 322.58x
Seaton Delaval 3 31.38x
Shoreditch London 3 0.95x
South Leith 3 2.72x
St Anne Soho London 3 7.18x
Trimdon 3 39.01x
West Herrington 3 39.32x
Darlington 2 2.38x
Dolgelley 2 20.08x
Faversham 2 8.40x
Reading St Mary 2 4.55x
Richmond 2 17.65x
Stockton On Tees 2 1.91x
Wellingborough 2 5.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 71
Elizabeth 32
Jane 29
Ann 19
Sarah 19
Margaret 15
Isabella 12
Dorothy 8
Annie 7
Catherine 7
Frances 7
Hannah 7
Alice 6
Ellen 5
Charlotte 4
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Barbara 2
Clara 2
Georgina 2
Infant 2
Louisa 2
Mabel 2
Priscilla 2
Rachel 2
Amy 1
Bertha 1
Catherin 1
Elenore 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizebeth 1
Elsie 1
Elza 1
Henrietta 1
Horsna 1
Isabel 1
Isabell 1
Sussannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 55
John 52
Thomas 36
Robert 31
George 28
James 24
Joseph 16
Edward 12
Henry 11
Frederick 6
Robt. 6
Ralph 5
Richard 5
Alfred 4
Andrew 4
David 4
Philip 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Peter 3
Walter 3
Aaron 2
Arthur 2
Matthew 2
Tom 2
Wilson 2
Alma 1
Austin 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Geroge 1
Gilbert 1
Graham 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jeffrey 1
Jno.Wm. 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Michael 1
Richad. 1
Ridley 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Grieves surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grieves surname in 1881?

In 1881, 740 people were recorded with the Grieves surname. That placed it at #4,951 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grieves surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,111 in 2016. That gives Grieves a modern rank of #5,290.

What does the Grieves surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a keeper of the king's forests or woods.

What does the Grieves map show?

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