UK surname
A variant of the surname Griess, possibly of German origin referring to gray or grayish hair color.
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Griss surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 68, ranked #33,826, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lavenham and Ipswich St Clement and Warren House. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Griss is 105 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 16.0%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
68
2016, ranked #33,826
Peak year
1911
105 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Griss surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Griss surname density by area, 1911 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 | 36 | #26,838 |
| 1861 | historical | 73 | #24,492 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 99 | #24,200 |
| 1901 | historical | 103 | #22,444 |
| 1911 | historical | 105 | #22,064 |
| 1997 | modern | 68 | #30,810 |
| 1998 | modern | 70 | #30,968 |
| 1999 | modern | 65 | #31,605 |
| 2000 | modern | 67 | #31,473 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 68 | #31,689 |
| 2004 | modern | 69 | #31,784 |
| 2005 | modern | 67 | #32,196 |
| 2006 | modern | 65 | #32,743 |
| 2007 | modern | 70 | #32,580 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 72 | #33,324 |
| 2011 | modern | 71 | #33,392 |
| 2012 | modern | 69 | #33,695 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 69 | #33,833 |
| 2015 | modern | 69 | #33,788 |
| 2016 | modern | 68 | #33,826 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lavenham, Ipswich St Clement and Warren House and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Lavenham | Suffolk |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Ipswich St Clement and Warren House | Suffolk |
| 5 | Ipswich St Mary Stoke | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Griss 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 Griss, 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 Griss surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Griss 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, Griss 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 Griss is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Griss, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GRISS is believed to have originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe during the Middle Ages. It likely derived from the Old High German word "gris," which meant "grey" or "grizzled," and was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with grey hair or a grizzled appearance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the GRISS surname can be found in the 14th-century records of the Free Imperial City of Nuremberg. A certain Hans Griss is mentioned in a document dated 1367, suggesting that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.
The GRISS surname also appeared in various medieval manuscripts and chronicles from the Holy Roman Empire, indicating its presence across German-speaking territories. For example, a knight named Konrad Griss is referenced in a 15th-century chronicle from the Duchy of Württemberg.
During the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, the GRISS surname spread to other parts of Europe as a result of migration and trade. In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing this name was Kaspar Griss (1530-1597), a German theologian and Protestant reformer from Saxony.
As the GRISS surname expanded across Europe, it often evolved into different spellings and variations based on local dialects and naming traditions. In the Netherlands, for instance, the name took the form "Grijss" or "Grijs," while in Switzerland, it became "Griss" or "Gryz."
Other notable individuals with the GRISS surname include:
1. Johann Baptist Griss (1691-1767), an Austrian baroque painter and fresco artist from Tyrol. 2. Christoph Griss (1725-1799), a German composer and organist from Saxony. 3. Johann Georg Griss (1770-1854), a German architect and urban planner from Bavaria. 4. Theodor Griss (1829-1880), an Austrian jurist and politician who served as Minister of Justice. 5. Elias Griss (1885-1957), a Swiss architect and urban planner known for his work in Zurich.
While the GRISS surname may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it eventually became a hereditary family name passed down through generations, carrying with it a rich history and cultural significance across various regions of Europe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Griss 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. Suffolk leads with 39 Griss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.53x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ipswich St Mathew in Suffolk leads with 14 Griss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 518.52x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ipswich St Mathew | 14 | 518.52x |
| Ipswich St Clement | 8 | 326.53x |
| Hackney London | 5 | 11.29x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 5 | 29.74x |
| Sunninghill | 5 | 609.76x |
| Woolwich | 5 | 50.20x |
| Hopton | 4 | 1666.67x |
| Ipswich St Margaret | 4 | 122.70x |
| Lavenham | 4 | 800.00x |
| Aldershot | 3 | 55.35x |
| Shoreditch London | 3 | 8.76x |
| Wandsworth | 3 | 39.47x |
| Bocking | 2 | 212.77x |
| Hampstead London | 2 | 16.26x |
| Litcham | 2 | 909.09x |
| Long Melford | 2 | 224.72x |
| Newington | 2 | 6.85x |
| Bury St Edmunds St James | 1 | 38.91x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 5.36x |
| Ewell | 1 | 123.46x |
| Halesworth | 1 | 147.06x |
| Kingstonupon Hull | 1 | 158.73x |
| Little Blakenham | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Moreton Say | 1 | 555.56x |
| Watton | 1 | 263.16x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Griss 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 Griss 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 Griss households.
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Griss surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 68 in 2016. That gives Griss a modern rank of #33,826.
A variant of the surname Griess, possibly of German origin referring to gray or grayish hair color.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Griss 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.