NameCensus.

UK surname

Grills

An occupational surname derived from the Old French word "griller," meaning to broil or grill.

In the 1881 census there were 302 people recorded with the Grills surname, ranking it #9,673 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 203, ranked #19,396, down from #9,673 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, Marham Church and Sutcombe, Pancrassweek. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, South Hams and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grills is 323 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 32.8%.

1881 census count

302

Ranked #9,673

Modern count

203

2016, ranked #19,396

Peak year

1911

323 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grills had 302 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,673 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016, ranked #19,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 323 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grills surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grills surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grills 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 315 #7,347
1861 historical 246 #10,010
1881 historical 302 #9,673
1891 historical 310 #10,812
1901 historical 264 #12,693
1911 historical 323 #10,842
1997 modern 205 #17,370
1998 modern 220 #17,074
1999 modern 232 #16,594
2000 modern 227 #16,792
2001 modern 223 #16,765
2002 modern 225 #16,994
2003 modern 213 #17,395
2004 modern 211 #17,590
2005 modern 204 #17,893
2006 modern 209 #17,784
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 203 #18,470
2009 modern 204 #18,779
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 218 #18,206
2012 modern 207 #18,777
2013 modern 203 #19,327
2014 modern 207 #19,259
2015 modern 201 #19,494
2016 modern 203 #19,396

Geography

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Where Grills' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, Marham Church, Sutcombe, Pancrassweek, Bradworthy and St Dominick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, South Hams and West Devon. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 Marham Church Cornwall
3 Sutcombe, Pancrassweek Devon
4 Bradworthy Devon
5 St Dominick Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 007 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
3 South Hams 002 South Hams
4 West Devon 007 West Devon
5 Cornwall 029 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grills

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grills

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Grills, 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 Grills surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Grills 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Grills is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grills is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grills falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grills is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Grills

The surname Grills has its origins in the Middle Ages, derived from the Old English word "grill," which meant "to burn" or "to broil." This name likely originated as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a griller or cook, often employed in the kitchens of wealthy households or in taverns.

The earliest known records of the surname Grills can be traced back to the 13th century in England. One of the earliest documented instances is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1275, where a William Grille is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the medieval period, the Grills surname was predominantly found in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire in the southwest of England. It's likely that the name arose independently in different areas, as occupational surnames were often adopted by unrelated individuals pursuing similar professions.

In the 14th century, the Grills surname appeared in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which listed a John Grille. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1334 also mentioned a Thomas Grille.

One notable individual bearing the Grills surname was Robert Grills, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the 15th century. Born in Somerset around 1420, he acquired substantial properties in the area and was a prominent figure in local affairs.

Another individual of note was William Grills, born in Gloucestershire in 1582. He was a skilled blacksmith and was renowned for his craftsmanship in creating intricate ironwork for local churches and manor houses.

In the 17th century, the Grills surname appeared in various parish records across England. For instance, the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Somerset recorded the birth of John Grills in 1612.

Moving into the 18th century, the Grills family had established themselves in various parts of England. One notable figure was Thomas Grills, born in 1732 in Wiltshire, who served as a captain in the British Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

As the surname spread beyond its origins in the southwest of England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the colonies and other parts of the world through migration and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grills families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grills 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. Devon leads with 143 Grills' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.17x.

County Total Index
Devon 143 23.17x
Cornwall 60 17.87x
Lancashire 25 0.71x
Hampshire 22 3.62x
Middlesex 15 0.51x
Glamorgan 13 2.52x
Buteshire 8 44.52x
Gloucestershire 5 0.86x
Somerset 5 1.05x
Essex 2 0.34x
Kent 2 0.20x
Royal Navy 2 5.66x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.83x
Surrey 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Dominick in Cornwall leads with 20 Grills' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2380.95x.

Place Total Index
St Dominick 20 2380.95x
Tormoham 19 72.74x
Plymouth St Andrew 15 31.55x
Portsea 13 10.91x
Sutcombe 11 2619.05x
Berry Pomeroy 10 980.39x
Hartland 9 468.75x
Mile End Old Town London 9 14.26x
Poundstock 9 1698.11x
Kilbride 8 361.99x
Calstock 7 106.38x
Halliwell 7 54.64x
Bradworthy 6 666.67x
Morleigh 6 5454.55x
Morwenstow 6 731.71x
Ugborough 6 402.68x
Gorton 5 15.11x
Plymouth Charles The 5 18.39x
Slapton 5 793.65x
Stoke Damerel 5 11.57x
Taunton St James 5 71.84x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 14.32x
Callington 4 204.08x
Carisbrooke 4 47.39x
Charleton 4 714.29x
Clawton 4 888.89x
Compton Gifford 4 207.25x
Deerhurst 4 470.59x
East Stonehouse 4 32.89x
Llandaff 4 23.28x
Maker 4 129.03x
Manchester 4 2.53x
Over Darwen 4 14.23x
Pancrasweek 4 1212.12x
Swansea Higher 4 74.35x
Swansea Town 4 9.45x
East Allington 3 566.04x
Kilkhampton 3 303.03x
Paignton 3 63.83x
Southampton St Mary 3 7.85x
Wolborough 3 38.46x
Blackawton 2 185.19x
Falmouth 2 16.84x
Harberton 2 141.84x
Marhamchurch 2 363.64x
Royal Navy 2 6.62x
Totnes 2 55.40x
West Ham 2 1.55x
Aldershot 1 4.91x
Alverdiscott 1 357.14x
Ashprington 1 217.39x
Barnstaple 1 10.32x
Bishopston Higher 1 476.19x
Bitton 1 19.76x
Camberwell 1 0.53x
Chittlehampton 1 65.79x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.43x
Dartington 1 156.25x
Devonport 1 14.10x
Exeter St David 1 18.98x
Greenwich 1 2.12x
Holsworthy 1 57.47x
Hulme 1 1.36x
Ilfracombe 1 15.75x
Islington London 1 0.35x
Llanbeblig 1 8.22x
Madron Penzance 1 8.19x
Newton St Cyres 1 114.94x
Northam 1 22.22x
Paddington London 1 0.92x
Poplar London 1 1.79x
Portsmouth 1 7.14x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.91x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.63x
St Stithians 1 54.05x
Stratton 1 54.95x
Walmer 1 22.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Ann 11
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 7
Eliza 6
Margaret 6
Jane 5
Annie 4
Bessie 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Martha 4
Alice 3
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Patience 2
Rebecca 2
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ellen 1
Elzth. 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Honor 1
Isabell 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Linda 1
Lottie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mailliew 1
Malinda 1
Marrion 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Thomasin 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 30
John 22
Thomas 14
George 13
Henry 7
James 6
Robert 6
Charles 5
Richard 5
Stephen 5
Alfred 3
Frederick 3
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Philip 2
Wm. 2
David 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ephraim 1
Fras.J. 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Jno.Thomas 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Phillip 1
Piter 1
Richd. 1
Samual 1
Thos.H. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Grills surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grills surname in 1881?

In 1881, 302 people were recorded with the Grills surname. That placed it at #9,673 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grills surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016. That gives Grills a modern rank of #19,396.

What does the Grills surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old French word "griller," meaning to broil or grill.

What does the Grills map show?

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