NameCensus.

UK surname

Grobler

A South African surname derived from the German word "Grobler" meaning someone of thick or coarse build.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Charnwood, Hartlepool and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grobler is 220 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

203

2016, ranked #19,396

Peak year

2010

220 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016, ranked #19,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Grobler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grobler surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grobler 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
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 43 #33,361
1998 modern 60 #31,931
1999 modern 71 #31,036
2000 modern 81 #30,036
2001 modern 83 #29,617
2002 modern 104 #27,303
2003 modern 114 #25,664
2004 modern 145 #22,289
2005 modern 175 #19,727
2006 modern 167 #20,447
2007 modern 173 #20,243
2008 modern 178 #20,094
2009 modern 203 #18,840
2010 modern 220 #18,265
2011 modern 212 #18,575
2012 modern 204 #18,973
2013 modern 202 #19,389
2014 modern 209 #19,128
2015 modern 212 #18,842
2016 modern 203 #19,396

Geography

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Where Groblers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Charnwood, Hartlepool, Bath and North East Somerset, Barnsley and Croydon. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Charnwood 010 Charnwood
2 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool
3 Bath and North East Somerset 007 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Barnsley 027 Barnsley
5 Croydon 044 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grobler

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grobler

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Grobler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Grobler 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Grobler is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grobler is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Grobler 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 Grobler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Grobler

The surname Grobler is of South African origin, derived from the Afrikaans word "grobbelaar," which means "quarryman" or "stonemason." It originated in the 17th century when Dutch settlers arrived in the Cape Colony.

The name is believed to have its roots in the Dutch province of Friesland, where the occupation of quarrying was prevalent. As settlers made their way to South Africa, the name evolved to its current spelling, Grobler.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Grobler can be found in the Cape Colony census of 1692, where Pieter Grobler was listed as a resident of Stellenbosch. This region, known for its wine production, likely employed many stonemasons and quarrymen in the construction of wineries and related structures.

The Grobler name gained prominence in the 18th and 19th centuries, with several notable individuals emerging. Jacobus Johannes Grobler (1770-1846) was a prominent farmer and landowner in the Graaff-Reinet district, while Pieter Grobler (1792-1862) served as a Veldkornet (field cornet) in the Cape Colony's military forces during the frontier wars against the Xhosa people.

In the 20th century, Johannes Jacobus Grobler (1890-1964) was a respected judge and advocate who served on the appellate division of the Supreme Court of South Africa. His son, Jan Grobler (1918-2005), was a renowned South African artist and illustrator, known for his work in children's literature.

Another notable figure was Roelof Grobler (1925-2004), a highly decorated South African rugby union player who represented his country in 20 test matches between 1949 and 1956. He was part of the Springbok team that toured the British Isles and France in 1951-52.

The Grobler surname continues to be widely represented in South Africa, particularly in the Afrikaner community, and has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Grobler surname: questions and answers

How common is the Grobler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016. That gives Grobler a modern rank of #19,396.

What does the Grobler surname mean?

A South African surname derived from the German word "Grobler" meaning someone of thick or coarse build.

What does the Grobler map show?

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