UK surname
An English surname derived from a geographic location.
In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Grindy surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 54, ranked #34,678, down from #17,841 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Alstonfield, Leek and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grindy is 278 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 54.6%.
1881 census count
119
Ranked #17,841
Modern count
54
2016, ranked #34,678
Peak year
1891
278 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Grindy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Grindy surname density by area, 1881 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 | 151 | #12,840 |
| 1861 | historical | 253 | #9,764 |
| 1881 | historical | 119 | #17,841 |
| 1891 | historical | 278 | #11,746 |
| 1901 | historical | 153 | #17,844 |
| 1911 | historical | 146 | #18,179 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 53 | #32,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 54 | #32,660 |
| 2000 | modern | 50 | #33,087 |
| 2001 | modern | 51 | #32,850 |
| 2002 | modern | 57 | #32,661 |
| 2003 | modern | 55 | #32,895 |
| 2004 | modern | 52 | #33,418 |
| 2005 | modern | 50 | #33,784 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 47 | #34,558 |
| 2008 | modern | 51 | #34,439 |
| 2009 | modern | 45 | #34,972 |
| 2010 | modern | 49 | #34,886 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 49 | #34,873 |
| 2013 | modern | 53 | #34,715 |
| 2014 | modern | 52 | #34,803 |
| 2015 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2016 | modern | 54 | #34,678 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Alstonfield, Leek, Preston, Mayfield and Ashborne. 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 | Alstonfield | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Leek | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 4 | Mayfield | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Ashborne | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Grindy 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 Grindy, 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 Grindy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Grindy 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, Grindy 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 Grindy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Grindy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Grindy has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'grind', which referred to a deep pit or hollow in the ground. This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone who lived near such a geographical feature or worked in an occupation related to digging or mining.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273, where it is spelled 'Grindey'. This document listed individuals who held lands and properties in various counties across England during the reign of King Edward I.
By the late 14th century, the name had evolved to its modern spelling of 'Grindy'. In the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1379, a John Grindy is recorded as residing in the village of Twywell, Northamptonshire. This suggests that the name had become well-established in the region by that time.
During the 15th century, the Grindy surname began appearing in various other historical records across England. A notable example is Thomas Grindy, a merchant from Bristol who lived between 1420 and 1489. His name is mentioned in several trade documents and ship manifests from the period, indicating his involvement in the maritime trade.
In the 16th century, the name Grindy can be found in the parish records of Staffordshire. One example is William Grindy, who was baptized in the village of Eccleshall in 1572. This highlights the spread of the surname across different counties in England.
Moving into the 17th century, the Grindy name appears to have gained prominence in the county of Derbyshire. In the Hearth Tax Returns of 1662, several individuals with the surname are listed as residing in the town of Chesterfield, including Robert Grindy and John Grindy.
Another notable figure bearing the Grindy surname was Samuel Grindy, a composer and musician from Yorkshire who lived from 1628 to 1704. He is known for his contributions to the music of the Church of England during the Restoration period.
As the centuries progressed, the Grindy surname continued to disperse throughout various regions of England, with families bearing the name settling in areas such as Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and the West Midlands.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grindy 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. Staffordshire leads with 63 Grindys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.08x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 63 | 16.08x |
| Derbyshire | 27 | 14.86x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 0.80x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 2.69x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.16x |
| Renfrewshire | 4 | 4.45x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.35x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 3.90x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.42x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gratton in Derbyshire leads with 10 Grindys recorded in 1881 and an index of 50000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gratton | 10 | 50000.00x |
| Leek Lowe | 10 | 191.94x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 10 | 24.07x |
| Beeley | 8 | 5714.29x |
| Fawfieldhead | 8 | 3200.00x |
| Norton In Moors | 7 | 338.16x |
| Salford | 6 | 14.81x |
| Tissington | 6 | 4000.00x |
| Gainsborough | 5 | 114.16x |
| Ipstones | 5 | 892.86x |
| Mayfield | 5 | 1020.41x |
| Crook Billy Row | 4 | 90.50x |
| East Greenock | 4 | 47.11x |
| Broughton In Salford | 3 | 23.83x |
| Grindon | 3 | 2142.86x |
| Heathylee | 3 | 1764.71x |
| Waterfall | 3 | 1764.71x |
| Wolverhampton | 3 | 9.96x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 1.98x |
| Sheen | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 11.61x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 9.14x |
| Bradley | 1 | 909.09x |
| Bradnop Cawdry | 1 | 555.56x |
| Burslem | 1 | 8.91x |
| Buxton | 1 | 64.94x |
| Dumfries | 1 | 39.53x |
| Heaton | 1 | 172.41x |
| Leek Frith | 1 | 303.03x |
| Matlock | 1 | 40.98x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 2.73x |
| Titteworth | 1 | 166.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Grindy 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 Grindy 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 Grindy households.
FAQ
In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Grindy surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 54 in 2016. That gives Grindy a modern rank of #34,678.
An English surname derived from a geographic location.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grindy 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.