NameCensus.

UK surname

Grizzell

A surname derived from the old English words "gris" and "hyll," meaning a man from the grey or grayish hill.

In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Grizzell surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 88, ranked #32,396, down from #23,062 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Malvern Hills, Luton and Stevenage.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grizzell is 119 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.9%.

1881 census count

74

Ranked #23,062

Modern count

88

2016, ranked #32,396

Peak year

1911

119 bearers

Map years

3

1901 to 1998

Key insights

  • Grizzell had 74 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,062 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 88 in 2016, ranked #32,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grizzell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grizzell surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grizzell 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 61 #26,170
1881 historical 74 #23,062
1891 historical 89 #25,542
1901 historical 103 #22,444
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 109 #25,650
1998 modern 111 #25,990
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 107 #26,700
2001 modern 107 #26,328
2002 modern 115 #25,749
2003 modern 111 #26,091
2004 modern 118 #25,317
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 98 #29,019
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 86 #32,297
2013 modern 88 #32,349
2014 modern 88 #32,495
2015 modern 86 #32,604
2016 modern 88 #32,396

Geography

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Where Grizzells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew, London parishes, Kemerton and Luton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Malvern Hills, Luton, Stevenage, Bromsgrove and Thurrock. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew Worcestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Kemerton Gloucestershire
5 Luton Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Malvern Hills 005 Malvern Hills
2 Luton 008 Luton
3 Stevenage 011 Stevenage
4 Bromsgrove 012 Bromsgrove
5 Thurrock 001 Thurrock

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grizzell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grizzell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Grizzell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grizzell 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

Grizzell falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grizzell 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 Grizzell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Grizzell

The surname Grizzell is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "gris," meaning "gray," which itself comes from the Germanic root "gris." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone with gray hair or a grayish complexion.

One of the earliest known records of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a William Grissel in Cambridgeshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also mention a John Grizell in Yorkshire, indicating the name's presence in different parts of England during the 14th century.

The Grizzell surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Grizehale in Staffordshire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. This place name, derived from the Old English words "gris" and "halh" (meaning "gray" and "nook" or "corner"), may have influenced the development of the surname.

Notable individuals with the Grizzell surname throughout history include:

1. William Grizzell (c. 1560-1622), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Taunton and wrote several religious works. 2. Thomas Grizzell (1684-1748), a British merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the city of Bristol. 3. Mary Grizzell (1701-1779), an English philanthropist and benefactor who established several charitable institutions in London. 4. John Grizzell (1753-1821), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. 5. Edward Grizzell (1833-1901), an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Missouri.

While the Grizzell surname has retained its original spelling over the centuries, variations such as Grizell, Grissell, and Grissel have also been documented in historical records, reflecting the fluidity of surnames in earlier times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grizzell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grizzell 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. Surrey leads with 26 Grizzells recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.39x.

County Total Index
Surrey 26 7.39x
Worcestershire 25 26.53x
Gloucestershire 13 9.19x
Warwickshire 4 2.20x
Buckinghamshire 3 6.88x
Durham 2 0.93x
Lanarkshire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 19 Grizzells recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.45x.

Place Total Index
Bermondsey 19 88.45x
Kemerton 10 8333.33x
Powick 7 1076.92x
Battersea 6 22.60x
Pershore St Andrew 6 1153.85x
Martin Hussingtree 5 12500.00x
Yardley 4 165.98x
Birmingham 3 4.95x
Buckingham 3 337.08x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 3 115.83x
Framwellgate 2 157.48x
Stoulton 2 2222.22x
Aston 1 2.00x
Hanbury 1 400.00x
Kingston On Thames 1 11.83x
New Monkland 1 14.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 11
Henry 5
Richard 3
Robert 2
Albert 1
Ancell 1
Auther 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
John 1
Martin 1
Reginald 1
Thomas 1
Unitt 1
Walter 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 Grizzell households.

FAQ

Grizzell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grizzell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Grizzell surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grizzell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 88 in 2016. That gives Grizzell a modern rank of #32,396.

What does the Grizzell surname mean?

A surname derived from the old English words "gris" and "hyll," meaning a man from the grey or grayish hill.

What does the Grizzell map show?

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