NameCensus.

UK surname

Grilli

An Italian surname derived from 'grillo', meaning cricket or grasshopper.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Grilli surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 102, ranked #30,722, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dover, Sefton and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grilli is 123 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10100.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

2009

123 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grilli had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016, ranked #30,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Grilli surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grilli surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grilli 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
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 12 #32,772
1911 historical 22 #31,030
1997 modern 103 #26,498
1998 modern 100 #27,619
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 102 #27,425
2001 modern 98 #27,672
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 103 #27,503
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 107 #27,179
2007 modern 117 #26,066
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 123 #26,098
2010 modern 120 #27,124
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 104 #30,365
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

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Where Grillis are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dover, Sefton and Kettering. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dover 014 Dover
2 Dover 010 Dover
3 Dover 008 Dover
4 Sefton 009 Sefton
5 Kettering 009 Kettering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grilli

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grilli

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Grilli surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Grilli 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Grilli 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

Grilli is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grilli 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 Grilli 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Grilli

The surname Grilli is of Italian origin, believed to have emerged in the 14th century. It is derived from the Italian word "grillo," meaning "cricket." The name likely referred to a person with a high-pitched voice or a jolly, lively personality reminiscent of a cricket's chirping.

The earliest recorded instances of the Grilli surname can be traced back to the regions of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna in central Italy. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname that later became a hereditary surname. In medieval times, it was common for individuals to be identified by their physical characteristics, occupations, or other distinguishing traits.

One of the earliest known references to the Grilli surname can be found in the historical records of the city of Siena, where a certain Grillo Grilli was mentioned in a document dated 1387. This suggests that the surname was already established and in use by that time.

In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the Grilli surname was Giacomo Grilli, a renowned Italian architect and sculptor who was active in the city of Rome. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings, including the Church of Santa Maria della Pace, completed in 1484.

Another historical figure of note was Giovanni Battista Grilli, a 16th-century Italian humanist and scholar from Genoa. Born in 1501, Grilli was a prolific writer and translator who made significant contributions to the field of classical literature.

In the 18th century, the Grilli surname gained prominence in the city of Bologna, where a family of that name produced several notable figures. One of them was Giuseppe Grilli, a renowned painter and engraver who was born in 1722 and became known for his intricate etchings and engravings.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the name Grilli was also associated with the Italian composer and pianist Riccardo Grilli, who was born in 1858 in the city of Parma. He composed numerous works for piano and orchestral ensembles, gaining recognition for his contributions to the Romantic musical tradition.

Throughout its history, the Grilli surname has been found in various regions of Italy, particularly in Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Liguria, and Lazio. While it may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has become a distinct and enduring Italian surname with a rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grilli families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grilli 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. Essex leads with 1 Grillis recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.63x.

County Total Index
Essex 1 52.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Prittlewell in Essex leads with 1 Grillis recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Prittlewell 1 3333.33x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Francesco 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Grilli households.

Occupation Count
A B Seaman 1

FAQ

Grilli surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grilli surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Grilli surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grilli surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016. That gives Grilli a modern rank of #30,722.

What does the Grilli surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from 'grillo', meaning cricket or grasshopper.

What does the Grilli map show?

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