NameCensus.

UK surname

Grimmett

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of fishing nets or snares.

In the 1881 census there were 329 people recorded with the Grimmett surname, ranking it #9,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 472, ranked #10,433, down from #9,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Stretton-on-the-Foss and Beaconsfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, Rugby and Mid Sussex.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grimmett is 566 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.5%.

1881 census count

329

Ranked #9,107

Modern count

472

2016, ranked #10,433

Peak year

1998

566 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grimmett had 329 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 472 in 2016, ranked #10,433.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 496 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grimmett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grimmett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grimmett 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 179 #11,346
1861 historical 172 #13,619
1881 historical 329 #9,107
1891 historical 396 #8,945
1901 historical 496 #8,098
1911 historical 493 #7,902
1997 modern 557 #8,579
1998 modern 566 #8,726
1999 modern 566 #8,777
2000 modern 543 #9,044
2001 modern 535 #8,989
2002 modern 527 #9,285
2003 modern 510 #9,350
2004 modern 506 #9,437
2005 modern 497 #9,479
2006 modern 492 #9,590
2007 modern 496 #9,626
2008 modern 498 #9,664
2009 modern 515 #9,630
2010 modern 514 #9,838
2011 modern 518 #9,705
2012 modern 512 #9,693
2013 modern 510 #9,871
2014 modern 504 #10,023
2015 modern 484 #10,249
2016 modern 472 #10,433

Geography

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Where Grimmetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Stretton-on-the-Foss, Beaconsfield and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury, Rugby, Mid Sussex and Birmingham. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Stretton-on-the-Foss Warwickshire
3 Beaconsfield Buckinghamshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 001 Tewkesbury
2 Tewkesbury 002 Tewkesbury
3 Rugby 005 Rugby
4 Mid Sussex 014 Mid Sussex
5 Birmingham 062 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grimmett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grimmett

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Grimmett is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Grimmett is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grimmett 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 Grimmett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Grimmett

The surname Grimmett is believed to have originated in England, likely during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "grim," meaning "fierce" or "grim-visaged." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed as a descriptive nickname upon someone with a stern or severe countenance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Grimmett can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dating back to 1195, where a certain Walter Grymet is mentioned. The spelling variations "Grymet" and "Grymett" are also found in various medieval records from the 13th and 14th centuries.

The Grimmett surname may have also been associated with certain place names, such as the village of Grimmet in Somerset, which is documented as early as the Domesday Book of 1086. This suggests that some individuals bearing the surname may have derived their name from the location they hailed from.

Notable individuals with the surname Grimmett throughout history include Sir John Grimmett (1549-1617), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Another prominent figure was William Grimmett (1703-1782), a renowned clockmaker and inventor from London, who was instrumental in the development of precision timekeeping devices.

In the literary realm, Elizabeth Grimmett (1773-1835) was an English writer and poet, best known for her collection of poems titled "Gleanings from Nature." Another notable Grimmett was Sir Richard Grimmett (1845-1923), a British military officer who served in the Crimean War and later became a prominent advocate for veterans' rights.

Moving into more recent times, Charles Grimmett (1889-1966) was a highly respected English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and represented England in several Test matches during the early 20th century.

While the surname Grimmett may have evolved over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it likely emerged as a descriptive nickname or association with a specific location. Throughout history, individuals bearing this surname have made significant contributions across various fields, leaving a lasting legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grimmett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grimmett 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 66 Grimmetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.11x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 66 8.11x
Gloucestershire 57 9.00x
Middlesex 49 1.52x
Oxfordshire 37 18.56x
Surrey 30 1.91x
Worcestershire 14 3.32x
Buckinghamshire 13 6.66x
Berkshire 12 4.95x
Staffordshire 12 1.10x
Kent 10 0.91x
Lancashire 10 0.26x
Leicestershire 5 1.40x
Yorkshire 5 0.16x
Dorset 4 1.89x
Suffolk 3 0.76x
Derbyshire 2 0.40x
Isle of Man 1 1.67x
Northamptonshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 27 Grimmetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.95x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 27 9.95x
Aston 16 7.14x
Cheltenham 15 30.71x
Beaconsfield 12 662.98x
Islington London 11 3.52x
Handsworth 10 37.23x
Alderton 9 1914.89x
Bisham 9 1153.85x
Drayton 8 1600.00x
Hook Norton 8 588.24x
Lambeth 8 2.84x
Margate St John Baptist 8 39.66x
Stanton 8 2666.67x
Camberwell 7 3.39x
Putney 7 47.55x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 28.42x
Gloucester St Catherine 6 337.08x
Stretton On Foss 6 1395.35x
Banbury 5 125.31x
Barrow In Furness 5 9.60x
Bethnal Green London 5 3.56x
Clerkenwell London 5 6.56x
Gorton 5 13.88x
Isleworth 5 34.84x
Leicester Black Friars 5 214.59x
Lower Heyford 5 862.07x
Overbury Alston 5 6250.00x
Shilton 5 1086.96x
St Pancras London 5 1.92x
Melcombe Regis 4 45.56x
Redditch 4 46.78x
St George Martyr London 4 61.16x
St Marylebone London 4 2.32x
Winchcomb 4 127.39x
Abingdon St Helen 3 42.31x
Bermondsey 3 3.12x
Clapham 3 7.43x
Cropthorne 3 384.62x
Halifax 3 6.39x
Oxford St Giles 3 31.55x
Southwold 3 128.76x
St George Hanover Square 3 5.27x
St George In East London 3 9.88x
Tredington 3 260.87x
Arrow 2 512.82x
Bladon 2 294.12x
Bowling 2 6.31x
Bromsgrove 2 14.09x
Cowley 2 32.15x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.35x
Kingswinford 2 5.05x
Leamington Priors 2 9.98x
Newbold Dunston 2 41.67x
Temple Grafton 2 434.78x
Toddington 2 869.57x
Warwick St Nicholas 2 33.50x
Whitechapel London 2 6.28x
Alveston 1 93.46x
Amersham 1 36.10x
Barnwood 1 117.65x
Chelsea London 1 1.03x
Church Lawford 1 344.83x
Cuddington 1 163.93x
Great Malvern 1 11.36x
Gt Tew 1 188.68x
Kingham 1 147.06x
Kings Norton 1 2.64x
Leckhampton 1 25.64x
Lillington 1 95.24x
Morton Pinkney 1 204.08x
Newington 1 0.84x
Onchan 1 5.79x
Poplar London 1 1.64x
Swinbrook 1 526.32x
Warborough 1 131.58x
Wellesbourne Hastings 1 129.87x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
George 17
John 12
Thomas 12
Arthur 9
Charles 8
Henry 8
James 8
Joseph 7
Samuel 7
Walter 6
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Harry 4
Amos 3
Edward 3
David 2
Enoch 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Emanuel 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Jesse 1
Leonard 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Seth 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Grimmett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grimmett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 329 people were recorded with the Grimmett surname. That placed it at #9,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grimmett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 472 in 2016. That gives Grimmett a modern rank of #10,433.

What does the Grimmett surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of fishing nets or snares.

What does the Grimmett map show?

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