NameCensus.

UK surname

Grimley

A toponymic name derived from a place called Grimley in Worcestershire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 638 people recorded with the Grimley surname, ranking it #5,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,103, ranked #5,330, up from #5,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tamworth, London parishes and Foleshill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Charnwood, County Durham and Cannock Chase.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grimley is 1,195 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.9%.

1881 census count

638

Ranked #5,573

Modern count

1,103

2016, ranked #5,330

Peak year

1999

1,195 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grimley had 638 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,103 in 2016, ranked #5,330.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 852 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grimley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grimley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grimley 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 344 #6,842
1861 historical 348 #7,339
1881 historical 638 #5,573
1891 historical 697 #5,622
1901 historical 833 #5,445
1911 historical 852 #5,208
1997 modern 1,121 #4,988
1998 modern 1,173 #4,971
1999 modern 1,195 #4,950
2000 modern 1,179 #4,983
2001 modern 1,143 #5,016
2002 modern 1,172 #5,005
2003 modern 1,142 #5,025
2004 modern 1,138 #5,043
2005 modern 1,113 #5,088
2006 modern 1,124 #5,048
2007 modern 1,125 #5,084
2008 modern 1,124 #5,129
2009 modern 1,133 #5,195
2010 modern 1,146 #5,261
2011 modern 1,133 #5,241
2012 modern 1,122 #5,201
2013 modern 1,151 #5,180
2014 modern 1,155 #5,183
2015 modern 1,130 #5,230
2016 modern 1,103 #5,330

Geography

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Where Grimleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tamworth, London parishes, Foleshill, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Sheepshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Charnwood, County Durham, Cannock Chase and Hinckley and Bosworth. 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 Tamworth Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Foleshill Warwickshire
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Sheepshead Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Charnwood 006 Charnwood
2 Charnwood 005 Charnwood
3 County Durham 048 County Durham
4 Cannock Chase 011 Cannock Chase
5 Hinckley and Bosworth 009 Hinckley and Bosworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grimley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grimley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Grimley 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

Grimley 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

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

Meaning and origin of Grimley

The surname Grimley is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "grim" meaning "fierce" or "severe" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing." This suggests that the name Grimley may have referred to a person who lived in a woodland clearing and had a fierce or severe demeanor.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Grimley can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable reference is in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279, which mentions a Robert de Grimley. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John Grimley.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Grimley was particularly prevalent in the counties of Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Gloucestershire in the West Midlands region of England. It is likely that the name originated in these areas, as many place names in the region incorporate the word "ley" or similar variations.

One notable individual with the surname Grimley was John Grimley, born in 1703 in Worcestershire. He was a prominent lawyer and served as the High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1744. Another notable figure was William Grimley, born in 1789 in Staffordshire, who was a renowned engineer and architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in the West Midlands.

In the 18th century, the surname Grimley appeared in various records, including the Parish Registers of Staffordshire, which list several Grimley families. One notable example is the birth of Thomas Grimley in 1745 in the village of Kinver, Staffordshire.

The 19th century saw several individuals with the surname Grimley achieving recognition in various fields. One such person was Charles Grimley, born in 1825 in Gloucestershire, who was a prominent author and journalist. Additionally, the name appears in the 1881 Census of England and Wales, with several Grimley families listed in the counties of Worcestershire and Staffordshire.

While the surname Grimley is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history dating back to medieval times and has been associated with notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grimley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grimley 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. Warwickshire leads with 190 Grimleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.12x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 190 12.12x
Leicestershire 117 16.98x
Staffordshire 65 3.10x
Middlesex 55 0.89x
Lancashire 42 0.57x
Nottinghamshire 27 3.22x
Worcestershire 25 3.08x
Yorkshire 22 0.36x
Derbyshire 14 1.44x
Surrey 14 0.46x
Sussex 9 0.86x
Gloucestershire 8 0.66x
Lincolnshire 7 0.70x
Ayrshire 6 1.29x
Cheshire 6 0.44x
Durham 5 0.27x
Kent 5 0.24x
Clackmannanshire 3 5.85x
Monmouthshire 3 0.67x
Shropshire 3 0.56x
Midlothian 2 0.24x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.17x
Angus 1 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.27x
Cornwall 1 0.14x
Essex 1 0.08x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.17x
Suffolk 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheepshed in Leicestershire leads with 64 Grimleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 677.97x.

Place Total Index
Sheepshed 64 677.97x
Aston 57 13.21x
Birmingham 57 10.91x
Chelsea London 18 9.61x
Foleshill 17 103.09x
Austrey 13 1688.31x
Bolehall Glascote 12 180.72x
Edgbaston 12 24.70x
Mavesyn Ridware 12 1188.12x
Norwood 11 77.41x
Bermondsey 10 5.41x
Kings Norton 10 13.74x
Leicester St Margaret 10 5.95x
Sutton Coldfield 10 60.72x
Coventry Holy Trinity 9 19.23x
Shoreditch London 9 3.34x
Bowling 8 13.12x
Burton Upon Trent 8 16.30x
Castle Donnington 8 140.11x
Hinckley 8 48.96x
Brighton 7 3.31x
Brightside Bierlow 7 5.80x
Cheltenham 7 7.45x
Codsall 7 234.90x
Edmonton 7 13.98x
Ibstock 7 139.72x
Sutton St Mary 7 74.55x
Tamworth 7 62.39x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 10.25x
Burntwood Edial 6 44.78x
North Meols 6 8.31x
Pendleton In Salford 6 6.83x
Radford 6 14.10x
Rugeley 6 39.87x
Toxteth Park 6 2.40x
Broughton In Salford 5 7.42x
Hamstall Ridware 5 617.28x
Hucknall Torkard 5 23.54x
Stoke Newington London 5 10.33x
Worcester St Peter 5 32.55x
Yardley 5 24.08x
Ashby De La Zouch 4 25.05x
Birkdale 4 21.44x
Duffield 4 52.15x
Skegby 4 77.97x
Sutton Bonnington 4 186.92x
Worcester St Martin 4 36.53x
Alloa 3 12.05x
Bedwellty 3 3.78x
Bilston 3 7.38x
Drayton In Hales 3 27.10x
Framwellgate 3 27.40x
Hasland 3 30.30x
Hulme 3 1.95x
Kilmarnock 3 5.42x
Kirkby In Ashfield 3 33.48x
Litchurch 3 7.66x
Loughborough 3 9.60x
Market Bosworth 3 120.48x
Sheffield 3 1.53x
Stevenston 3 24.75x
Swinefleet 3 112.78x
Abbots Bromley 2 64.31x
Ashborne 2 30.26x
Audlem 2 61.92x
Birkenhead 2 1.83x
Breedon On The Hill 2 96.15x
East Bridgford 2 104.71x
Erith 2 9.57x
Handsworth 2 3.87x
Ravenstone 2 208.33x
Sale 2 11.88x
Twickenham 2 7.51x
Walsall Foreign 2 1.85x
West Calder 2 12.19x
Woodhouse 2 72.99x
Woolwich 2 2.55x
Worthing 2 172.41x
Derby St Alkmund 1 3.43x
Nuneaton 1 5.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 34
Mary 32
Elizabeth 24
Ann 15
Annie 15
Emma 14
Jane 10
Catherine 8
Eliza 8
Maria 8
Alice 7
Harriet 7
Anne 6
Charlotte 6
Ellen 6
Fanny 6
Louisa 6
Martha 6
Edith 5
Hannah 5
Agnes 4
Caroline 4
Emily 4
Frances 4
Isabella 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Dora 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Bertha 2
Betsy 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Mabel 2
Myra 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Susannah 2
Winney 2
Elina 1
Elizather 1
Helen 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Grimley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grimley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 638 people were recorded with the Grimley surname. That placed it at #5,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grimley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,103 in 2016. That gives Grimley a modern rank of #5,330.

What does the Grimley surname mean?

A toponymic name derived from a place called Grimley in Worcestershire, England.

What does the Grimley map show?

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