NameCensus.

UK surname

Grimson

A surname derived from the Old Norse word "grimr" meaning fierce or grim-looking.

In the 1881 census there were 227 people recorded with the Grimson surname, ranking it #11,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 199, ranked #19,653, down from #11,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Putney, Gillingham All Saints and St Mary and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Bradford and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grimson is 243 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.3%.

1881 census count

227

Ranked #11,858

Modern count

199

2016, ranked #19,653

Peak year

1911

243 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grimson had 227 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016, ranked #19,653.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 243 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Grimson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grimson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grimson 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 140 #13,593
1861 historical 209 #11,596
1881 historical 227 #11,858
1891 historical 240 #13,123
1901 historical 232 #13,769
1911 historical 243 #13,163
1997 modern 222 #16,508
1998 modern 232 #16,508
1999 modern 236 #16,404
2000 modern 225 #16,891
2001 modern 223 #16,765
2002 modern 227 #16,877
2003 modern 209 #17,620
2004 modern 203 #18,061
2005 modern 216 #17,283
2006 modern 210 #17,718
2007 modern 202 #18,359
2008 modern 212 #17,950
2009 modern 207 #18,600
2010 modern 213 #18,660
2011 modern 207 #18,841
2012 modern 198 #19,340
2013 modern 202 #19,389
2014 modern 205 #19,375
2015 modern 206 #19,208
2016 modern 199 #19,653

Geography

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Where Grimsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Putney, Gillingham All Saints and St Mary, London parishes, Aylsham and South Walsham St Mary and St Lawrence. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Bradford and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Putney London (South Districts)
2 Gillingham All Saints and St Mary Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Aylsham Norfolk
5 South Walsham St Mary and St Lawrence Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 010 Waveney
2 Waveney 009 Waveney
3 Waveney 011 Waveney
4 Bradford 002 Bradford
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 004 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grimson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grimson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Grimson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Grimson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Grimson 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

Grimson is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Grimson

The surname Grimson is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "grim," meaning "fierce" or "stern," combined with the suffix "-son," indicating a familial relationship. This suggests that the name was initially given to the son of someone with a fierce or stern demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Grimson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, which mention a Roger Grimson. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, referring to a John Grimson.

In the 13th century, the name Grimson was closely associated with the village of Grimston in Norfolk, England. This place name is derived from the Old English "Grim's tun," meaning "Grim's farm or settlement." It is possible that some individuals bearing the surname Grimson may have originated from this area.

During the 14th century, the name Grimson appeared in various historical records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1317, which mentioned a William Grimson. The Poll Tax returns of Yorkshire from 1379 also list a John Grimson.

Notable individuals with the surname Grimson throughout history include:

1. Sir John Grimson (c. 1450 - 1520), an English politician and landowner from Yorkshire, who served as a Member of Parliament for Northallerton in 1491.

2. Thomas Grimson (1562 - 1635), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Battersea and published several religious works.

3. William Grimson (1784 - 1863), a British navigator and explorer who participated in several Arctic expeditions and contributed to the mapping of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

4. Harriet Grimson (1826 - 1901), an English philanthropist and social reformer who advocated for women's rights and established several charitable institutions in London.

5. Alfred Grimson (1875 - 1952), a renowned English architect known for his work on various public buildings and churches in the early 20th century, including the Royal Exchange in Manchester.

While the surname Grimson has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and has evolved with various spellings and regional variations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grimson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grimson 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. Norfolk leads with 113 Grimsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.19x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 113 33.19x
Lanarkshire 29 4.05x
Middlesex 24 1.08x
Surrey 20 1.85x
Leicestershire 7 2.85x
Warwickshire 6 1.07x
Lancashire 5 0.19x
Northamptonshire 5 2.40x
Kent 3 0.40x
Northumberland 3 0.91x
Suffolk 3 1.11x
Cornwall 2 0.80x
Devon 2 0.43x
Yorkshire 2 0.09x
Essex 1 0.23x
Lincolnshire 1 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gillingham in Norfolk leads with 23 Grimsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6764.71x.

Place Total Index
Gillingham 23 6764.71x
Toft Monks 18 6000.00x
Putney 15 148.66x
Scole Cum Frenze 10 2040.82x
South Walsham St Mary 10 3571.43x
St George Hanover Square 10 25.63x
Great Yarmouth 9 31.91x
Bitteswell 7 2500.00x
Blantyre 7 93.96x
Blofield 7 804.60x
Hamilton 7 35.05x
Aston 5 3.25x
Aylsham 5 246.31x
Barony 5 2.76x
Govan 5 2.82x
Heigham 5 27.37x
Peterborough 5 33.16x
Dalserf 4 55.94x
Hackney London 4 3.22x
Hales 4 2000.00x
Kensington London 4 3.25x
Loddon 4 454.55x
Martham 4 481.93x
West Derby 4 5.20x
Lingwood 3 1000.00x
Tynemouth 3 17.01x
Battersea 2 2.45x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 2 166.67x
Chedgrave 2 714.29x
Fulham London 2 6.23x
Madron Penzance 2 21.93x
Mutford 2 666.67x
Norwich St George Colegate 2 161.29x
Poringland 2 555.56x
Aslockton 1 322.58x
Beccles 1 23.04x
Broad Clist 1 62.89x
Camberwell 1 0.71x
Charlton 1 19.92x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 9.47x
Faversham 1 13.89x
Geldeston 1 454.55x
Gildersome 1 37.88x
Gillingham 1 6.42x
Glasgow 1 0.79x
Great Grimsby 1 4.45x
Hammersmith London 1 1.83x
Heckingham 1 400.00x
Islington London 1 0.47x
Leyton 1 13.28x
Norwich St Augustine 1 72.99x
Ratley 1 322.58x
Richmond 1 6.61x
Salton 1 833.33x
Shoreditch London 1 1.04x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.24x
St Pancras London 1 0.56x
Westleigh 1 16.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 10
Robert 9
Charles 8
George 7
Joseph 4
Arthur 3
Edmund 3
Herbert 3
James 3
Samuel 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Henry 2
Stephen 2
Donald 1
Edgar 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Grice 1
Louis 1
Mr. 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Theoplus 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Grimson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grimson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 227 people were recorded with the Grimson surname. That placed it at #11,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grimson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016. That gives Grimson a modern rank of #19,653.

What does the Grimson surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old Norse word "grimr" meaning fierce or grim-looking.

What does the Grimson map show?

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