NameCensus.

UK surname

Grimsley

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "Grim's clearing" or "Grim's wood."

In the 1881 census there were 293 people recorded with the Grimsley surname, ranking it #9,884 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 432, ranked #11,135, down from #9,884 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Steeple Barton, Westcott Barton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Trafford, Stratford-on-Avon and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grimsley is 486 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.4%.

1881 census count

293

Ranked #9,884

Modern count

432

2016, ranked #11,135

Peak year

2002

486 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grimsley had 293 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,884 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016, ranked #11,135.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 446 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grimsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grimsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grimsley 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 182 #11,209
1861 historical 197 #12,166
1881 historical 293 #9,884
1891 historical 289 #11,425
1901 historical 381 #9,799
1911 historical 446 #8,566
1997 modern 455 #9,985
1998 modern 474 #10,004
1999 modern 474 #10,055
2000 modern 469 #10,105
2001 modern 460 #10,063
2002 modern 486 #9,833
2003 modern 458 #10,136
2004 modern 455 #10,208
2005 modern 446 #10,283
2006 modern 444 #10,347
2007 modern 452 #10,298
2008 modern 439 #10,640
2009 modern 444 #10,797
2010 modern 450 #10,915
2011 modern 437 #11,036
2012 modern 442 #10,812
2013 modern 447 #10,885
2014 modern 444 #11,021
2015 modern 438 #11,055
2016 modern 432 #11,135

Geography

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Where Grimsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Steeple Barton, Westcott Barton, London parishes, Manchester and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Trafford, Stratford-on-Avon, Herefordshire, Blaby and North Kesteven. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 Steeple Barton, Westcott Barton Oxfordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Trafford 008 Trafford
2 Stratford-on-Avon 013 Stratford-on-Avon
3 Herefordshire 015 Herefordshire, County of
4 Blaby 008 Blaby
5 North Kesteven 008 North Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grimsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grimsley

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Grimsley is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grimsley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grimsley falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grimsley 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 Grimsley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Grimsley

The surname Grimsley has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the places called Grimsby or Grimston, which were named after an Old Norse personal name, Grimr, combined with the Old English word "by" meaning a farmstead or village.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Grimsley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as Grimesbi, referring to Grimsby in Lincolnshire. This suggests that the name was already established in the region during the 11th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Grimsley name was Sir William Grimsley, a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in the 13th century. He held lands in Derbyshire and was mentioned in various charters and records of the time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Grymesby, Grymesly, and Grymsley, reflecting the evolution of the English language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

During the 16th century, notable figures with the Grimsley surname included Robert Grimsley (c. 1510 - 1572), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London, and Thomas Grimsley (1551 - 1618), a clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Windsor.

Another significant figure was Sir Harbottle Grimsley (1594 - 1648), a renowned military commander who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. He was knighted for his service and bravery on the battlefield.

In the 18th century, the Grimsley family had established themselves as prominent landowners and industrialists in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable member was John Grimsley (1732 - 1809), a successful industrialist and entrepreneur who owned several mills and factories.

Throughout its history, the Grimsley surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Grimsby in Lincolnshire, Grimston in Yorkshire, and Grimston in Norfolk, further reinforcing its locational origins and connections to specific regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grimsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grimsley 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. Oxfordshire leads with 97 Grimsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.96x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 97 54.96x
Warwickshire 63 8.74x
Leicestershire 49 15.46x
Lancashire 18 0.53x
Staffordshire 14 1.45x
Kent 10 1.03x
Middlesex 8 0.28x
Monmouthshire 7 3.39x
Somerset 6 1.30x
Surrey 6 0.43x
Derbyshire 5 1.12x
Cambridgeshire 4 2.21x
Denbighshire 3 2.78x
Berkshire 1 0.47x
Gloucestershire 1 0.18x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bicester Market End in Oxfordshire leads with 47 Grimsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1450.62x.

Place Total Index
Bicester Market End 47 1450.62x
Leicester St Margaret 37 47.88x
Steeple Barton 17 1888.89x
Coventry Holy Trinity 13 60.41x
Burton Upon Trent 11 48.74x
Coventry St Michael 11 47.52x
Birmingham 10 4.16x
Plumstead 9 27.69x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 14.85x
Oxford St Giles 8 95.01x
Newport 7 70.99x
Thame 7 218.07x
Bulkington 6 384.62x
Easenhall 6 2400.00x
Long Lawford 6 895.52x
Clapham 5 13.99x
Headington 5 182.48x
Leicester St Mary 5 19.53x
Stapenhill 5 75.08x
Withybrook 5 1724.14x
Banbury 4 113.31x
Duxford 4 526.32x
Foleshill 4 52.77x
Fulwood 4 109.29x
Hulme 4 5.65x
St Pancras London 4 1.74x
Bedminster 3 6.94x
East Coker 3 297.03x
Leicester All Sts 3 48.23x
St Asaph Cil Owen 3 750.00x
Westcote Barton 3 1304.35x
Caversfield 2 2222.22x
Hinckley 2 26.60x
Islington London 2 0.72x
Lower Heyford 2 392.16x
Lutterworth 2 103.63x
Salford 2 2.01x
Walsall Foreign 2 4.01x
Bristol St James In 1 12.14x
Clewer 1 11.38x
Cowley 1 18.15x
Hammersmith London 1 1.42x
Launton 1 172.41x
Lee 1 7.06x
Monks Kirby 1 62.89x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.74x
Stanwell 1 47.17x
Willenhall 1 5.53x
Wolston Marston 1 185.19x
York St Giles In 1 37.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 12
Annie 8
Emma 6
Hannah 6
Eliza 5
Ann 4
Charlotte 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Caroline 3
Florence 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Ada 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Lousia 2
Martha 2
Phoebe 2
Rebecca 2
Sophia 2
Catherine 1
Clementina 1
Eith 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Ethol 1
Eunice 1
Ewnice 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Hilda 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Margarett 1
No 1
Phillis 1
Rachel 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 12
Charles 10
Frederick 9
George 8
James 8
Thomas 8
Henry 7
Joseph 6
Arthur 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Andrew 1
Bertram 1
Chas. 1
Claudius 1
Edward 1
Eli 1
Eliza 1
Gabriel 1
Geo. 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
Percival 1
Richard 1
Sherwin 1
Willm. 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Grimsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grimsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 293 people were recorded with the Grimsley surname. That placed it at #9,884 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grimsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016. That gives Grimsley a modern rank of #11,135.

What does the Grimsley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "Grim's clearing" or "Grim's wood."

What does the Grimsley map show?

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