NameCensus.

UK surname

Gritt

A variant spelling of the English word "grit", referring to bravery or fortitude.

In the 1881 census there were 78 people recorded with the Gritt surname, ranking it #22,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 278, ranked #15,579, up from #22,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, Godalming and Romsey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Test Valley, Eastleigh and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gritt is 308 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 256.4%.

1881 census count

78

Ranked #22,500

Modern count

278

2016, ranked #15,579

Peak year

2002

308 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gritt had 78 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016, ranked #15,579.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Gritt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gritt surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gritt 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 51 #27,498
1881 historical 78 #22,500
1891 historical 134 #19,777
1901 historical 132 #19,469
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 292 #13,765
1998 modern 306 #13,720
1999 modern 299 #14,000
2000 modern 299 #13,937
2001 modern 297 #13,816
2002 modern 308 #13,763
2003 modern 291 #14,100
2004 modern 297 #13,971
2005 modern 303 #13,757
2006 modern 286 #14,322
2007 modern 281 #14,660
2008 modern 292 #14,403
2009 modern 296 #14,557
2010 modern 307 #14,485
2011 modern 300 #14,591
2012 modern 285 #15,050
2013 modern 279 #15,574
2014 modern 274 #15,877
2015 modern 273 #15,789
2016 modern 278 #15,579

Geography

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Where Gritts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, Godalming, Romsey, London parishes and Eling. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Test Valley, Eastleigh and North Somerset. 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 Romsey Extra, Michelmersh Hampshire
2 Godalming Surrey
3 Romsey Hampshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 Eling Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Test Valley 011 Test Valley
2 Test Valley 010 Test Valley
3 Eastleigh 006 Eastleigh
4 Test Valley 012 Test Valley
5 North Somerset 010 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gritt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gritt

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gritt, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Gritt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Gritt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Gritt is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gritt is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gritt falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gritt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gritt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gritt

The surname GRITT is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "grit," which referred to a small particle or grain of sand or gravel. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a sandy or gravelly area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GRITT can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where it appears as "Grytt." This spelling variation indicates that the name was likely pronounced differently in its early days.

In the 14th century, the name GRITT appeared in various legal and ecclesiastical records across England. For instance, a Thomas Grytte was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1332, while a John Grytt was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1376.

During the 15th century, the name GRITT began to spread beyond its original region, with instances of the surname appearing in other parts of England. One notable bearer of the name during this time was William Gritt, a merchant from Bristol who was mentioned in the city's records in 1487.

As the centuries passed, the GRITT surname continued to be found in various regions of England, with some families establishing themselves in specific localities. For example, the GRITT family was well-represented in the county of Shropshire, with records showing individuals such as Richard Gritt (born in 1602) and Mary Gritt (born in 1634) residing in the area.

Historically, the GRITT surname has also been associated with a few notable individuals. One such person was John Gritt (1648-1721), an English clergyman who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Another notable bearer of the name was William Gritt (1703-1773), a successful merchant and landowner from Worcestershire.

Other individuals with the surname GRITT who left their mark on history include: - Thomas Gritt (1720-1795), a farmer and local landowner in Oxfordshire - Elizabeth Gritt (1776-1843), a philanthropist and social reformer from Gloucestershire - James Gritt (1821-1892), a renowned artist and painter known for his landscapes of the English countryside.

While the origins of the GRITT surname can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have migrated over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gritt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gritt 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. Hampshire leads with 51 Gritts recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.71x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 51 32.71x
Surrey 14 3.78x
Wiltshire 4 5.95x
Glamorgan 2 1.51x
Sussex 2 1.56x
Dorset 1 2.00x
Herefordshire 1 3.21x
Middlesex 1 0.13x
Midlothian 1 0.98x
Somerset 1 0.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Romsey Infra in Hampshire leads with 15 Gritts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2830.19x.

Place Total Index
Romsey Infra 15 2830.19x
Godalming 14 600.86x
Holdenhurst 10 244.50x
Millbrook 7 178.12x
Eling 6 379.75x
Denny Lodge 4 5000.00x
Shrewton 4 2222.22x
Aberdare 2 22.00x
Brighton 2 7.73x
Portsea 2 6.54x
Romsey Extra 2 215.05x
South Stoneham 2 59.17x
Boldre 1 178.57x
Cranborne 1 166.67x
Fawley 1 204.08x
Frome 1 34.13x
Hordle 1 370.37x
Queensferry 1 1000.00x
Ross 1 80.65x
St Luke London 1 8.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 4
James 4
John 4
Thomas 4
Edward 3
Joseph 3
William 2
Anthony 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredick 1
Fredrick 1
Henry 1
Phillip 1
Willie 1

Top occupations

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 Gritt households.

FAQ

Gritt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gritt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 78 people were recorded with the Gritt surname. That placed it at #22,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gritt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016. That gives Gritt a modern rank of #15,579.

What does the Gritt surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English word "grit", referring to bravery or fortitude.

What does the Gritt map show?

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