NameCensus.

UK surname

Grindley

A locational surname originating from a place called Grindley in Shropshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 831 people recorded with the Grindley surname, ranking it #4,535 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,003, ranked #5,792, down from #4,535 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Allerdale and Wrexham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grindley is 1,072 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.7%.

1881 census count

831

Ranked #4,535

Modern count

1,003

2016, ranked #5,792

Peak year

2010

1,072 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grindley had 831 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,535 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,003 in 2016, ranked #5,792.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,004 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grindley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grindley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grindley 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 501 #4,984
1861 historical 565 #4,654
1881 historical 831 #4,535
1891 historical 925 #4,467
1901 historical 963 #4,878
1911 historical 1,004 #4,532
1997 modern 1,010 #5,455
1998 modern 1,049 #5,446
1999 modern 1,071 #5,395
2000 modern 1,049 #5,474
2001 modern 1,026 #5,475
2002 modern 1,040 #5,508
2003 modern 1,044 #5,402
2004 modern 1,055 #5,367
2005 modern 1,042 #5,364
2006 modern 1,054 #5,317
2007 modern 1,049 #5,398
2008 modern 1,032 #5,510
2009 modern 1,062 #5,494
2010 modern 1,072 #5,553
2011 modern 1,052 #5,580
2012 modern 1,018 #5,655
2013 modern 1,037 #5,672
2014 modern 1,027 #5,727
2015 modern 1,012 #5,757
2016 modern 1,003 #5,792

Geography

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Where Grindleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Allerdale, Wrexham and Shropshire. 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 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 010 Wigan
2 Wigan 011 Wigan
3 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
4 Wrexham 018 Wrexham
5 Shropshire 003 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grindley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grindley

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

Grindley is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Grindley

The surname Grindley is believed to have its origins in England, specifically in the regions of Cheshire and Staffordshire. It is thought to derive from the Old English words "grind," meaning a narrow path or lane, and "leah," meaning a woodland clearing or meadow.

The earliest known record of the name Grindley appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as a place name in the form of "Grindelie." This suggests that the name was likely derived from a geographic location, possibly a settlement or hamlet situated along a narrow path through a wooded area.

In the 13th century, the name Grindley can be found in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, where it is spelled as "Gryndeleye." This variation in spelling was common during that period, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

One notable individual with the surname Grindley was William Grindley, a merchant and alderman who lived in the City of London during the 16th century. Records indicate that he was born around 1530 and served as an alderman for the Bread Street Ward from 1575 until his death in 1597.

In the 17th century, the name Grindley was associated with several notable figures, including John Grindley (1602-1672), a Presbyterian minister and author from Lancashire, and Thomas Grindley (1635-1705), a prominent lawyer and landowner in Cheshire.

Moving into the 18th century, the name Grindley is linked to several place names in England, such as Grindley Brook, a village in Staffordshire, and Grindley Hill, a hamlet in Cheshire. This further reinforces the connection between the surname and its geographic origins.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Grindley was William Williams Grindley (1779-1841), a renowned English potter and ceramics manufacturer from Staffordshire. His company, W.W. Grindley & Co., produced high-quality earthenware and porcelain during the Industrial Revolution and became renowned for its distinctive designs and intricate patterns.

Throughout its history, the surname Grindley has also been associated with various professions and occupations, including farmers, artisans, and tradespeople, reflecting the diversity of individuals who bore this name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grindley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grindley 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. Lancashire leads with 197 Grindleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.04x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 197 2.04x
Shropshire 125 17.78x
Cheshire 106 5.90x
Staffordshire 69 2.51x
Surrey 60 1.51x
Middlesex 53 0.65x
Cumberland 35 5.00x
Lanarkshire 28 1.06x
Yorkshire 27 0.33x
Kent 23 0.83x
Denbighshire 18 5.86x
Warwickshire 15 0.73x
Flintshire 14 6.40x
Montgomeryshire 8 4.29x
Caernarfonshire 7 2.13x
Hertfordshire 7 1.25x
Derbyshire 6 0.47x
Isle of Man 5 3.31x
Leicestershire 5 0.55x
Northumberland 5 0.41x
Hampshire 4 0.24x
Stirlingshire 4 1.33x
Gloucestershire 2 0.13x
Midlothian 2 0.18x
Shetland 2 2.41x
Sussex 2 0.15x
Cornwall 1 0.11x
Devon 1 0.06x
Fife 1 0.21x
Norfolk 1 0.08x
Suffolk 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 32 Grindleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.16x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 32 6.16x
Stoke Upon Trent 30 10.30x
Hulme 25 12.40x
Monks Coppenhall 24 35.41x
West Derby 24 8.50x
Manchester 21 4.84x
Glasgow 20 4.28x
Liverpool 18 3.07x
St Pancras London 17 2.60x
Bewcastle 14 564.52x
Kirkdale 14 8.62x
Whittington 14 238.10x
Stockport 13 14.07x
Waverton 12 1304.35x
Wigan 12 8.90x
Handsworth 11 51.62x
Hanmer Bettisfield 11 1078.43x
Cheetham 10 13.89x
Minster In Sheppey 10 21.74x
Smallthorne 10 98.14x
Drypool 9 72.93x
Newington 9 2.99x
Salford 9 3.17x
Shifnal 9 47.17x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 9 115.98x
Wrockwardine 9 58.21x
Burslem 8 10.17x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 13.06x
Ludlow St Lawrence 8 57.22x
Pool 8 56.90x
Ruabon 8 18.93x
Walton On Hill 8 15.30x
Warwick 8 898.88x
Widnes 8 11.49x
Battersea 7 2.34x
Birmingham 7 1.02x
Brampton 7 72.92x
Bushey 7 52.43x
Ercall Magna 7 139.17x
Kinnerley 7 209.58x
Norley 7 346.53x
Runcorn 7 16.91x
St Marylebone London 7 1.61x
Toxteth Park 7 2.14x
Worsley 7 11.76x
Barony 6 0.90x
Edgmond 6 77.52x
Hackney London 6 1.32x
Islington London 6 0.76x
Llandrillo Yn Rhos 6 131.87x
Oswestry Town 6 26.65x
Sandbach 6 39.16x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 3.67x
St Giles In Fields London 6 15.03x
Stokesay 6 289.86x
Whitchurch 6 43.99x
Broughton In Salford 5 5.66x
Chester St Mary On Hill 5 32.45x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.34x
Litherland 5 24.78x
Llanbeblig 5 14.98x
Loughborough 5 12.22x
W Felton 5 167.79x
Whitchurch Tilstock 5 287.36x
Woolwich 5 4.88x
Chetwynd 4 176.21x
Falkirk 4 5.69x
Foulk Stapleford 4 555.56x
Lambeth 4 0.56x
Pendleton In Salford 4 3.48x
Stoke Upon Tern 4 154.44x
Trentham 4 17.12x
Wavertree 4 12.95x
Welsh Hampton 4 275.86x
Westminster St Margaret 4 10.19x
Wetheral 4 43.10x
Wombourn Woodford 4 833.33x
Hartington Upper 3 49.34x
Onchan 3 6.89x
Warblington 3 45.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 72
Elizabeth 35
Sarah 29
Ann 17
Ellen 16
Jane 16
Margaret 15
Annie 12
Emily 11
Hannah 10
Edith 9
Maria 9
Alice 8
Harriet 8
Martha 7
Caroline 6
Catherine 6
Emma 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Eliza 5
Harriett 5
Florence 4
Amelia 3
Charlotte 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Isabella 3
Janet 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Matilda 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Clara 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Helen 2
Katherine 2
Lydia 2
Margt. 2
Ruth 2
Susan 2
Cath. 1
Elizth. 1
Emelina 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 57
John 52
George 44
Thomas 43
Joseph 21
James 19
Henry 15
Arthur 12
Samuel 10
Charles 9
Edward 9
Robert 9
Richard 8
Alfred 7
Frederick 7
Jonathan 5
Albert 4
Frank 4
Frederic 3
Harry 3
Walter 3
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Isaac 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Eli 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Laurence 1
Leonard 1
Lockhart 1
Michael 1
Michl. 1
Owen 1
Pat 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Sampson 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Grindley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grindley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 831 people were recorded with the Grindley surname. That placed it at #4,535 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grindley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,003 in 2016. That gives Grindley a modern rank of #5,792.

What does the Grindley surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place called Grindley in Shropshire, England.

What does the Grindley map show?

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