NameCensus.

UK surname

Grime

A surname possibly referring to a person living near a pit or other dirty place.

In the 1881 census there were 1,575 people recorded with the Grime surname, ranking it #2,687 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 989, ranked #5,852, down from #2,687 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Preston and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Ribble Valley and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grime is 1,958 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.2%.

1881 census count

1,575

Ranked #2,687

Modern count

989

2016, ranked #5,852

Peak year

1911

1,958 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grime had 1,575 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,687 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 989 in 2016, ranked #5,852.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,958 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Grime surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grime surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grime 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 1,019 #2,741
1861 historical 789 #3,492
1881 historical 1,575 #2,687
1891 historical 1,362 #3,189
1901 historical 1,697 #3,040
1911 historical 1,958 #2,536
1997 modern 1,048 #5,278
1998 modern 1,115 #5,200
1999 modern 1,128 #5,187
2000 modern 1,094 #5,289
2001 modern 1,073 #5,275
2002 modern 1,089 #5,314
2003 modern 1,047 #5,392
2004 modern 1,037 #5,443
2005 modern 1,008 #5,510
2006 modern 999 #5,571
2007 modern 1,000 #5,609
2008 modern 1,012 #5,598
2009 modern 1,049 #5,554
2010 modern 1,058 #5,612
2011 modern 1,021 #5,721
2012 modern 977 #5,847
2013 modern 991 #5,870
2014 modern 999 #5,860
2015 modern 996 #5,828
2016 modern 989 #5,852

Geography

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Where Grimes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Preston, Blackburn, Bolton-le-Moors and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Ribble Valley, Wigan and Chorley. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 019 Bolton
2 Ribble Valley 007 Ribble Valley
3 Wigan 025 Wigan
4 Chorley 009 Chorley
5 Ribble Valley 003 Ribble Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grime

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grime

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Grime 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

Grime is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Grime

The surname GRIME is of English origin, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "grim," meaning "fierce" or "brave." The name may have originally been a nickname given to someone with a fierce or stern demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GRIME surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a "Robert Grim" living in Yorkshire. The Domesday Book of 1086 also mentions several individuals with the similar name "Grim," suggesting that the surname may have existed even earlier.

In the 14th century, variations of the name such as "Gryme" and "Gryme" began to appear in historical records. These spellings were likely influenced by regional dialects and the evolution of the English language over time.

The GRIME surname is also associated with various place names in England, such as Grimsby and Grimston, which may have contributed to the development of the surname in certain areas.

Notable individuals with the surname GRIME throughout history include:

1. Robert Grime (c. 1540-1592), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the Elizabethan era for his religious beliefs.

2. Thomas Grime (1756-1828), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

3. John Grime (1802-1874), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Liverpool, including the Liverpool Medical Institution.

4. Edward Grime (1819-1893), a British painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and scenes of rural life.

5. William Grime (1847-1916), a British trade unionist and social reformer who played a significant role in the early labor movement in the United Kingdom.

The GRIME surname has a rich history dating back centuries, with roots in the English language and connections to various regions and place names throughout England. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since evolved into a well-established surname with notable bearers across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grime families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grime 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 1,312 Grimes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.21x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,312 7.21x
Yorkshire 96 0.63x
Cheshire 65 1.92x
Derbyshire 45 1.87x
Middlesex 18 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.48x
Lincolnshire 6 0.24x
Northumberland 6 0.26x
Surrey 5 0.07x
Kent 4 0.08x
Durham 1 0.02x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
Westmorland 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Over Darwen in Lancashire leads with 156 Grimes recorded in 1881 and an index of 107.33x.

Place Total Index
Over Darwen 156 107.33x
Blackburn 138 28.50x
Preston 79 16.23x
Little Bolton 70 29.92x
Chorley 50 48.97x
Tottington Lower End 46 53.20x
Oldham 40 6.81x
Bury 33 15.88x
Manchester 33 4.03x
Great Bolton 30 12.45x
Lower Darwen 25 104.69x
Ashton Under Lyne 24 6.03x
Lancaster 24 22.17x
Accrington 23 13.90x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 22 42.00x
Wigan 22 8.65x
Glossop Dale 21 18.68x
Little Lever 20 85.95x
Salford 20 3.74x
Newchurch 19 12.76x
Walton Le Dale 19 38.85x
Dilworth 17 152.47x
Chadderton 16 17.99x
Hindley 16 20.62x
Monks Coppenhall 16 12.53x
Tottington Higher End 15 72.43x
Castleton 13 7.15x
Dukinfield 13 8.31x
Farnworth 13 11.92x
Haslingden 13 17.25x
Middleton In Oldham 13 23.83x
Atherton 12 18.12x
Ince In Makerfield 12 14.17x
Royton 12 21.56x
Sandal Magna 12 53.40x
Sturston 12 302.27x
Fulwood 11 55.95x
Huncoat 11 225.41x
Bentham 10 86.36x
Walkeringham 10 268.82x
Yeldersley 10 1075.27x
Barton Upon Irwell 9 6.57x
Brindle 9 143.54x
Burnley 9 5.87x
Heaton Norris 9 8.69x
Bromley London 8 2.37x
Butterworth 8 18.05x
Halifax 8 3.59x
Kearsley 8 20.89x
Layton With Warbreck 8 11.98x
Leyland 8 25.27x
Walmersley Cum 8 27.52x
Adlington 7 41.08x
Broughton In Salford 7 4.21x
Rishton 7 32.80x
Sharples 7 35.46x
Spotland 7 3.46x
Bradford 6 7.04x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 6 49.71x
Church 6 23.36x
Elswick 6 3.29x
Pendleton In Salford 6 2.77x
Radcliffe 6 6.84x
Stayley 6 15.51x
Wakefield 6 5.14x
Clitheroe 5 9.34x
East Keal 5 240.38x
Livesey 5 15.65x
Newton 5 95.24x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 5 40.55x
Rumworth 5 19.23x
Sculcoates 5 2.08x
Thelwall 5 192.31x
Toxteth Park 5 0.81x
Waddington 5 212.77x
Bethnal Green London 4 0.60x
Bradshaw 4 100.76x
Hulme 4 1.05x
Hyde 4 4.00x
Tintwistle 4 22.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 133
Elizabeth 68
Sarah 67
Jane 45
Alice 40
Margaret 40
Ann 35
Ellen 35
Annie 26
Hannah 22
Martha 20
Nancy 18
Eliza 14
Emily 13
Catherine 12
Esther 11
Betsy 10
Emma 10
Betty 9
Edith 8
Fanny 7
Ada 6
Isabella 6
Louisa 6
Maria 6
Clara 5
Florence 5
Rose 5
Susannah 5
Anne 4
Bertha 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Harriet 4
Lucy 4
Minnie 4
Selina 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Elizth. 3
Frances 3
Grace 3
Lizzie 3
Lydia 3
Margt. 3
Easter 2
Harriett 2
M. 2
Margery 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 138
William 90
James 81
Thomas 59
Richard 40
Joseph 35
Robert 29
George 24
Henry 23
Charles 17
David 16
Edward 15
Albert 11
Fred 8
Arthur 7
Benjamin 7
Herbert 6
Wm. 6
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Andrew 4
Frank 4
Joshua 4
Peter 4
Ralph 4
Samuel 4
Christopher 3
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Thos. 3
Abraham 2
Alexander 2
Briggs 2
Daniel 2
Eccles 2
Gideon 2
Harold 2
J. 2
Job 2
Luke 2
Willm. 2
Austin 1
Ben 1
Benj. 1
Elijah 1
Elisha 1
Ellis 1
Emmanuel 1

FAQ

Grime surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grime surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,575 people were recorded with the Grime surname. That placed it at #2,687 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grime surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 989 in 2016. That gives Grime a modern rank of #5,852.

What does the Grime surname mean?

A surname possibly referring to a person living near a pit or other dirty place.

What does the Grime map show?

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