NameCensus.

UK surname

Grimwood

A surname likely denoting someone who lived near a dark or gloomy wood.

In the 1881 census there were 1,226 people recorded with the Grimwood surname, ranking it #3,303 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,836, ranked #3,455, down from #3,303 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hitcham, Brettenham, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ipswich, Babergh and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grimwood is 2,020 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.8%.

1881 census count

1,226

Ranked #3,303

Modern count

1,836

2016, ranked #3,455

Peak year

1999

2,020 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grimwood had 1,226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,303 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,836 in 2016, ranked #3,455.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,914 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grimwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grimwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grimwood 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 955 #2,906
1861 historical 666 #4,023
1881 historical 1,226 #3,303
1891 historical 1,378 #3,152
1901 historical 1,735 #2,989
1911 historical 1,914 #2,592
1997 modern 1,930 #3,134
1998 modern 2,012 #3,143
1999 modern 2,020 #3,156
2000 modern 2,018 #3,144
2001 modern 1,969 #3,144
2002 modern 2,008 #3,161
2003 modern 1,936 #3,197
2004 modern 1,949 #3,185
2005 modern 1,879 #3,240
2006 modern 1,868 #3,282
2007 modern 1,856 #3,315
2008 modern 1,831 #3,384
2009 modern 1,873 #3,391
2010 modern 1,919 #3,386
2011 modern 1,896 #3,386
2012 modern 1,849 #3,408
2013 modern 1,865 #3,429
2014 modern 1,884 #3,421
2015 modern 1,846 #3,455
2016 modern 1,836 #3,455

Geography

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Where Grimwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hitcham, Brettenham, London parishes, St Pancras and Tuddenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ipswich, Babergh, Redcar and Cleveland and Norwich. 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 Hitcham, Brettenham Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Tuddenham Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ipswich 016 Ipswich
2 Ipswich 012 Ipswich
3 Babergh 007 Babergh
4 Redcar and Cleveland 006 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Norwich 002 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grimwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grimwood

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

Grimwood 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

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

Meaning and origin of Grimwood

The surname Grimwood has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "grim" and "wudu," which together mean "dark wood" or "gloomy forest." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or in a dense, shaded woodland area.

In medieval times, surnames were often descriptive, reflecting a person's occupation, physical characteristics, or place of residence. The Grimwood name likely began as a descriptive surname, identifying individuals who lived in or near a particularly dark or foreboding forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273, which mentions a William Grimwod. The surname also appears in various other historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield and the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Grimwode, Grymwode, and Grymwood, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common at the time. Over time, the spelling gradually standardized to the modern form of Grimwood.

Notable individuals with the surname Grimwood include:

1. Sir Harbottle Grimwood (1603-1685), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Ipswich during the English Civil War. 2. John Grimwood (1611-1662), an English clergyman and author of theological works. 3. William Grimwood (1783-1852), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament. 4. Frederick Grimwood (1827-1901), a British painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes. 5. Ethel Grimwood (1886-1966), an English novelist and playwright, famous for her historical fiction set in medieval England.

While the Grimwood name is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a long and rich history, reflecting the country's linguistic and cultural heritage. The name's connection to the natural landscape and its descriptive origins provide a glimpse into the lives and identities of those who bore it throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grimwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grimwood 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. Suffolk leads with 593 Grimwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.48x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 593 40.48x
Middlesex 139 1.16x
Essex 120 5.05x
Surrey 75 1.28x
Kent 51 1.24x
Lancashire 42 0.29x
Norfolk 39 2.11x
Cambridgeshire 37 4.86x
Durham 30 0.84x
Yorkshire 24 0.20x
Lincolnshire 15 0.78x
Glamorgan 8 0.38x
Hampshire 8 0.32x
Sussex 7 0.35x
Warwickshire 7 0.23x
Devon 6 0.24x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.45x
Cheshire 5 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.55x
Channel Islands 4 1.12x
Worcestershire 4 0.25x
Ayrshire 2 0.22x
Gloucestershire 2 0.08x
Berkshire 1 0.11x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.70x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Finborough in Suffolk leads with 31 Grimwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 1823.53x.

Place Total Index
Great Finborough 31 1823.53x
Willisham 30 3658.54x
St Pancras London 28 2.89x
Hitcham 25 677.51x
Tuddenham St Mary 25 1572.33x
West Ham 25 4.77x
Ipswich St Margaret 23 46.27x
Ipswich St Clement 22 59.08x
Little Livermere 21 3088.24x
Bricett 20 1923.08x
Great Welnetham 20 1098.90x
Ringshall 20 1470.59x
Walthamstow 20 23.41x
Camberwell 19 2.47x
Hackney London 18 2.67x
Newington 17 3.83x
Plumstead 16 11.70x
Wimblington 16 356.35x
Gosbeck 15 1145.04x
Hadleigh 15 105.56x
Belstead 13 992.37x
Haughley 13 356.16x
Hindley 13 21.36x
Brettenham 12 923.08x
Pinner 12 113.85x
Sudbury St Peter 12 149.44x
Waldridge 12 200.33x
Cavendish 11 232.56x
Deptford St Paul 11 3.48x
Westhoughton 11 28.88x
Coddenham 10 297.62x
Lambeth 10 0.95x
Long Melford 10 73.42x
Mile End Old Town London 10 3.91x
Croydon 9 2.77x
Wisbech St Mary 9 102.97x
Bow London 8 5.22x
Ipswich St Helen 8 46.06x
Ipswich St Mathew 8 19.48x
Ipswich St Peter 8 40.57x
Islington London 8 0.69x
Oldham 8 1.74x
Roath 8 8.41x
Stoke Holy Cross 8 465.12x
Stranton 8 6.64x
Tunstall 8 314.96x
Whaplode 8 122.14x
Whepstead 8 317.46x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.34x
Chelmsford 7 17.19x
Leamington 7 34.83x
Portsmouth 7 12.33x
Salford 7 1.67x
Stonham Aspall 7 234.11x
Troston 7 507.25x
Aldham 6 612.24x
Ash Next Ridley 6 230.77x
Barking 6 79.16x
Bermondsey 6 1.68x
Colchester St Giles 6 25.58x
Combs 6 122.70x
Gate Fulford 6 21.56x
Glemsford 6 58.31x
Grays Thurrock 6 27.19x
Great Cornard 6 181.27x
Hepworth 6 275.23x
Lavenham 6 78.33x
Mulbarton 6 281.69x
Norwich St Giles 6 101.35x
St Marylebone London 6 0.93x
Stowmarket 6 35.44x
Woodbridge 6 32.03x
Brighton 5 1.22x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 5 18.19x
Chelsea London 5 1.38x
Hunslet 5 2.69x
Old Newton 5 177.31x
Shoreditch London 5 0.96x
Washbrook 5 349.65x
Wickham Market 5 82.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 68
George 57
John 44
James 39
Charles 36
Robert 32
Thomas 32
Henry 30
Walter 23
Arthur 21
Alfred 18
Joseph 15
Edward 13
Frederick 13
Harry 11
Albert 8
Samuel 8
Christopher 6
Ernest 6
Herbert 6
David 5
Frank 5
Benjamin 4
Frederic 4
Abraham 3
Daniel 3
Francis 3
Dennis 2
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Johnson 2
Jonathan 2
Lenord 2
Matthew 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
W. 2
Archer 1
Chales 1
Edwin 1
Evangelist 1
Hurbert 1
Infant 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Grimwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grimwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,226 people were recorded with the Grimwood surname. That placed it at #3,303 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grimwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,836 in 2016. That gives Grimwood a modern rank of #3,455.

What does the Grimwood surname mean?

A surname likely denoting someone who lived near a dark or gloomy wood.

What does the Grimwood map show?

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