NameCensus.

UK surname

Groome

An English surname derived from the Old French word "gromme", meaning a servant or groom.

In the 1881 census there were 470 people recorded with the Groome surname, ranking it #7,098 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 670, ranked #7,986, down from #7,098 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Rushden and Kettering. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Babergh, East Northamptonshire and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Groome is 894 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.6%.

1881 census count

470

Ranked #7,098

Modern count

670

2016, ranked #7,986

Peak year

1911

894 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Groome had 470 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,098 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 670 in 2016, ranked #7,986.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 894 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Groome surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Groome surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Groome 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 239 #9,092
1861 historical 234 #10,463
1881 historical 470 #7,098
1891 historical 633 #6,110
1901 historical 803 #5,624
1911 historical 894 #4,981
1997 modern 733 #6,988
1998 modern 757 #7,041
1999 modern 747 #7,174
2000 modern 743 #7,154
2001 modern 716 #7,233
2002 modern 739 #7,190
2003 modern 734 #7,121
2004 modern 745 #7,058
2005 modern 721 #7,158
2006 modern 723 #7,180
2007 modern 731 #7,207
2008 modern 727 #7,274
2009 modern 722 #7,451
2010 modern 722 #7,599
2011 modern 691 #7,762
2012 modern 674 #7,852
2013 modern 681 #7,908
2014 modern 671 #8,046
2015 modern 670 #7,996
2016 modern 670 #7,986

Geography

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Where Groomes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Rushden, Kettering and Irthlingborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Babergh, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Muirhouse. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Rushden Northamptonshire
4 Kettering Northamptonshire
5 Irthlingborough Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Babergh 006 Babergh
2 East Northamptonshire 004 East Northamptonshire
3 Kettering 011 Kettering
4 East Northamptonshire 008 East Northamptonshire
5 Muirhouse North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Groome

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Groome

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Groome surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Groome household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Groome is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Groome is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Groome falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Groome

The surname Groome is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "groom," which referred to a servant or attendant. The earliest records of this surname date back to the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

In medieval times, the name Groome was commonly used to refer to individuals who worked as grooms, tending to horses and other livestock. This occupation was particularly prevalent in rural areas, where agriculture and animal husbandry were essential components of daily life.

One of the earliest known references to the Groome surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and populations commissioned by William the Conqueror. Several individuals with the surname Groome are listed in this historical document, indicating that the name was already well-established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

As the centuries passed, the Groome surname spread across different regions of England, with various spelling variations emerging, such as Grome, Groome, and Groom. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the preferences of individual scribes or record-keepers.

One notable individual bearing the Groome surname was Sir John Groome (c. 1530-1594), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Richard Groome (c. 1570-1638), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 17th century, the Groome surname also found its way to the American colonies, with several individuals bearing this name arriving in Virginia and other parts of the New World. One such individual was John Groome, who was born in England around 1618 and later settled in Maryland, where he became a prominent landowner and planter.

Other notable individuals with the Groome surname include Francis Groome (1823-1894), an English philologist and author who made significant contributions to the study of Romani language and culture, and John Groome (1903-1980), an American professional baseball player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1920s.

Throughout history, the Groome surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from agriculture and animal husbandry to politics, religion, and academia. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Groome families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Groome 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. Middlesex leads with 108 Groomes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.35x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 108 2.35x
Lancashire 79 1.45x
Northamptonshire 74 17.09x
Cheshire 41 4.03x
Suffolk 21 3.74x
Surrey 18 0.80x
Sussex 18 2.32x
Essex 17 1.87x
Hampshire 16 1.70x
Hertfordshire 15 4.73x
Shropshire 15 3.77x
Leicestershire 13 2.55x
Kent 10 0.64x
Yorkshire 7 0.15x
Bedfordshire 5 2.10x
Norfolk 5 0.71x
Lincolnshire 2 0.27x
Midlothian 2 0.32x
Royal Navy 2 3.65x
Staffordshire 2 0.13x
Devon 1 0.10x
Durham 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Irthlingborough in Northamptonshire leads with 33 Groomes recorded in 1881 and an index of 776.47x.

Place Total Index
Irthlingborough 33 776.47x
Islington London 21 4.71x
Chester St Mary On Hill 16 183.49x
Toxteth Park 16 8.65x
Higham Ferrers 15 638.30x
Walthamstow 14 42.80x
Paddington London 13 7.68x
Kensington London 12 4.69x
Chrtltn Cdngtn Nwtn 11 1358.02x
Mile End Old Town London 11 11.23x
St Pancras London 11 2.97x
Manchester 10 4.07x
Littleton 9 2903.23x
Bethnal Green London 8 4.00x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 8 220.99x
Bury 7 11.22x
Madeley 7 48.01x
Eastbourne 6 16.80x
Hornsey 6 10.31x
St Albans St Peter 6 56.02x
St George In East London 6 13.85x
Congleton 5 28.47x
Dalby In The Wolds 5 943.40x
Deptford St Paul 5 4.13x
Great Bolton 5 6.91x
Great Harrowden 5 2083.33x
Halifax 5 7.46x
Kings Langley 5 216.45x
Leicester St Margaret 5 4.02x
Luton 5 12.12x
Moss Side 5 17.39x
Newton 5 11.87x
Oakley 5 1162.79x
Old 5 877.19x
Peterborough 5 15.95x
Steyning 5 190.11x
Burgh Castle 4 487.80x
Hackney London 4 1.55x
Holdenhurst 4 16.16x
Monk Soham 4 634.92x
New Houghton 4 1428.57x
Ore 4 69.20x
Over Darwen 4 9.17x
Reigate Foreign 4 16.47x
Bow London 3 5.12x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 3.46x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.76x
Diddlebury 3 229.01x
Hulme 3 2.63x
Raunds 3 68.03x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.70x
Thames Ditton 3 64.38x
West Derby 3 1.88x
Widnes 3 7.61x
Belgrave 2 17.36x
Brighton 2 1.28x
Chester St John Baptist 2 10.95x
Chorley In Macclesfield 2 64.52x
Coulsdon 2 49.02x
Dartford 2 12.45x
Duddingston 2 16.16x
Hadleigh 2 36.76x
Higher Bebington 2 30.72x
Ipswich St Mathew 2 12.72x
Laxfield 2 142.86x
Lewisham 2 2.39x
Penge 2 6.80x
Prees 2 41.32x
Richmond 2 6.36x
Royal Navy 2 4.26x
Southampton St Michael 2 64.31x
St Albans 2 30.77x
Stowmarket 2 30.86x
Thurlby 2 416.67x
Twywell 2 253.16x
Whitchurch 2 25.91x
Woodford 2 82.99x
Ash Next Sandwich 1 28.74x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.12x
Great Eccleston 1 101.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 23
William 22
Thomas 17
George 14
Charles 12
James 12
Edward 8
Alfred 7
Henry 7
Richard 7
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Albert 4
Walter 4
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Leonard 2
Thos. 2
Abraham 1
Anderson 1
Arther 1
Christmas 1
Daniel 1
Ebenezer 1
Edw. 1
Ernest 1
Fordyce 1
Frank 1
Grace 1
Hermon 1
Jonah 1
Joshua 1
Laton 1
Leyer 1
Nehemiah 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Ruben 1
Seymour 1
Stephen 1
Winstone 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Groome surname: questions and answers

How common was the Groome surname in 1881?

In 1881, 470 people were recorded with the Groome surname. That placed it at #7,098 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Groome surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 670 in 2016. That gives Groome a modern rank of #7,986.

What does the Groome surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word "gromme", meaning a servant or groom.

What does the Groome map show?

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