UK surname
A surname deriving from an occupational name for someone who grinds grains or minerals.
In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Grinder surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #25,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Dunstan Stepney, South Bersted and Bognor and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grinder is 141 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.9%.
1881 census count
58
Ranked #25,428
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
141 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Grinder surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Grinder surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 77 | #19,998 |
| 1861 | historical | 141 | #16,072 |
| 1881 | historical | 58 | #25,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 72 | #27,804 |
| 1901 | historical | 31 | #30,616 |
| 1911 | historical | 43 | #28,581 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Dunstan Stepney, South Bersted and Bognor, Portsmouth, Portsea, All Saints Poplar 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | South Bersted and Bognor | Sussex |
| 3 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 4 | All Saints Poplar | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Grinder surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Grinder, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Grinder surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Grinder household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Grinder is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grinder is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Grinder, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Grinder is derived from the Old English word "grindan" which means "to grind". This occupation-based surname was given to millers or those who worked grinding grains. The earliest records of the name can be traced back to the county of Suffolk in England during the early 13th century.
In the Feet of Fines for Suffolk from 1206, a John le Grindere is mentioned. The "le" prefix was commonly used in Middle English to denote a person's occupation or place of origin. This suggests that John Grindere was likely a miller or someone who worked grinding grains during that time period.
The Grinder surname is also found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were records of landowners in various counties. In this record, a William le Gryndere is listed as a landowner in the county of Oxfordshire, further solidifying the connection between the name and the occupation of grinding grains.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Grinder surname without the "le" prefix can be found in the Patent Rolls of 1330, which mention a Thomas Grinder from the county of Lincolnshire. This suggests that by the 14th century, the surname had evolved from its occupational origins and become a hereditary family name.
Notable individuals with the surname Grinder throughout history include:
1. Sir Thomas Grindall (1512-1583), an English Roman Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the Elizabethan period for his religious beliefs.
2. John Grinder (1616-1677), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works.
3. Hans Grinder (1723-1795), a German-born clockmaker who immigrated to the American colonies and established a successful clockmaking business in Pennsylvania.
4. Eliza Grinder (1818-1888), an American author and educator who wrote several books on history and geography for children.
5. John Grinder (born 1940), an American linguist and co-founder of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), a controversial approach to communication and personal development.
While the Grinder surname is found in various parts of the world today, its origins can be traced back to the occupation of grinding grains in medieval England. The name's evolution from an occupational descriptor to a hereditary surname reflects the social and cultural changes that occurred during that time period.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grinder surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 34 Grinders recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 34 | 6.01x |
| Sussex | 11 | 11.54x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 4.31x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.45x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.40x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.36x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 2.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 10 Grinders recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.24x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 10 | 18.24x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 9 | 74.75x |
| Chelsea London | 5 | 29.34x |
| South Bersted | 5 | 617.28x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 5 | 180.51x |
| Aldingbourn | 4 | 2857.14x |
| Poplar London | 4 | 37.49x |
| Portsea | 4 | 17.61x |
| Aston | 2 | 5.09x |
| Cheetham | 2 | 39.92x |
| Holy Trinity | 2 | 14.84x |
| Brighton | 1 | 5.20x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.18x |
| Manchester | 1 | 3.31x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 37.45x |
| Rumbolds Wyke | 1 | 555.56x |
| St Edward Cambridge | 1 | 909.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Grinder surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Grinder surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Grinder households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Thatcher | 3 |
| Tailoress | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Domestic Serv Minding House | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Fish Salesman | 1 |
| Footman Domc Sert | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Genl Labr (Out Of Employ) | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Master Mariner (Merchant Serv) | 1 |
| Postman | 1 |
| Printer Compositor | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher School Board | 1 |
| Sailmaker | 1 |
| Solicitors Gen Clerk | 1 |
| Staymaker | 1 |
| Thatcher Wife | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
| Watchman | 1 |
| Waterman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Grinder surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Grinder a modern rank of #37,967.
A surname deriving from an occupational name for someone who grinds grains or minerals.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grinder bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.