NameCensus.

UK surname

Grosse

A descriptive surname referring to a person of large physical stature or great influence and importance.

In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Grosse surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 224, ranked #18,164, down from #15,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, Barnsley and Bolsover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grosse is 271 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.5%.

1881 census count

154

Ranked #15,259

Modern count

224

2016, ranked #18,164

Peak year

1911

271 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grosse had 154 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 224 in 2016, ranked #18,164.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 271 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grosse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grosse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grosse 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 57 #26,718
1881 historical 154 #15,259
1891 historical 214 #14,214
1901 historical 251 #13,102
1911 historical 271 #12,237
1997 modern 253 #15,152
1998 modern 269 #14,941
1999 modern 252 #15,707
2000 modern 244 #16,004
2001 modern 246 #15,684
2002 modern 241 #16,243
2003 modern 226 #16,766
2004 modern 227 #16,778
2005 modern 229 #16,631
2006 modern 227 #16,842
2007 modern 226 #17,103
2008 modern 229 #17,092
2009 modern 238 #17,002
2010 modern 252 #16,701
2011 modern 241 #17,057
2012 modern 240 #16,979
2013 modern 239 #17,307
2014 modern 229 #17,925
2015 modern 229 #17,846
2016 modern 224 #18,164

Geography

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Where Grosses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, London parishes, St Pancras, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton and Collingham, North. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, Barnsley, Bolsover and Sevenoaks. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton Nottinghamshire
5 Collingham, North Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 011 Newark and Sherwood
2 Barnsley 005 Barnsley
3 Bolsover 008 Bolsover
4 Sevenoaks 013 Sevenoaks
5 Barnsley 004 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grosse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grosse

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Grosse is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Grosse 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

Grosse 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 Grosse 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 Grosse, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Grosse

The surname "Grosse" is of German origin and is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, sometime around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the German word "gross," which means "large" or "great." It was likely originally used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was particularly tall or of large stature.

In its earliest forms, the name may have been spelled slightly differently, such as "Gros" or "Grosz," due to regional variations and spelling conventions of the time. The name is also closely related to the French surname "Legros," which has a similar meaning and origin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Grosse" can be found in a document from the city of Cologne, Germany, dated around 1300. This document mentions a man named "Johann Grosse," who was a merchant and landowner in the area.

As the name spread throughout Germany and other parts of Europe, it became associated with various place names and locations. For example, there is a town called Grossenhain in Saxony, Germany, which may have contributed to the name's popularity in that region.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname "Grosse." One of the earliest was Johann Grosse, a German theologian and philosopher who lived in the 15th century (c. 1420-1492). He was known for his writings on logic and philosophy and served as a professor at the University of Cologne.

Another prominent individual was Julius Grosse, a German painter and printmaker who lived in the 19th century (1828-1902). He was known for his landscapes and city scenes, and his works can be found in many museums throughout Europe.

In the field of literature, Gertrud Grosse was a notable German poet and writer who lived in the early 20th century (1879-1942). She published several collections of poetry and was known for her lyrical style and themes of nature and emotion.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname "Grosse" was Alfred Grosse, a German architect and urban planner who lived from 1856 to 1942. He was instrumental in the development of modern city planning principles and designed several notable buildings and urban projects in Germany and other parts of Europe.

Finally, in the realm of science, Karl Grosse was a German physicist and inventor who lived from 1864 to 1935. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the radio and wireless communication technologies, and he held several patents related to radio and electrical engineering.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grosse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grosse 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 40 Grosses recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.84x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 40 20.84x
Middlesex 35 2.46x
Surrey 16 2.31x
Kent 11 2.26x
Lancashire 9 0.53x
Lincolnshire 9 3.95x
Yorkshire 9 0.64x
Hampshire 5 1.71x
Suffolk 4 2.31x
Berkshire 2 1.87x
Devon 1 0.34x
Gloucestershire 1 0.36x
Northamptonshire 1 0.75x
Somerset 1 0.44x
Sussex 1 0.42x
Warwickshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newark Upon Trent in Nottinghamshire leads with 22 Grosses recorded in 1881 and an index of 318.84x.

Place Total Index
Newark Upon Trent 22 318.84x
St Pancras London 21 18.32x
Camberwell 8 8.79x
North Collingham 8 1777.78x
Wandsworth 7 51.06x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 20.90x
Bassingham 5 1428.57x
Greenwich 5 22.06x
Plumstead 5 30.86x
St George Bloomsbury 5 61.20x
Nottingham St Mary 4 8.06x
Over Kellet 4 1666.67x
Alverstoke 3 28.38x
Ardwick 3 19.69x
Gainsborough 3 55.87x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 61.73x
Mansfield 3 45.18x
Perlethorpe 3 4285.71x
Shoreditch London 3 4.86x
Dent 2 338.98x
Heston 2 42.28x
Moss Side 2 22.50x
Reading St Giles 2 19.07x
Ardingly 1 131.58x
Bermondsey 1 2.36x
Bromley London 1 3.19x
Clifton 1 7.08x
Doncaster 1 9.70x
Glastonbury 1 53.48x
Guilsborough 1 285.71x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 16.98x
Leamington Priors 1 11.31x
Lee 1 14.16x
North Kelsey 1 243.90x
Paddington London 1 1.91x
Paignton 1 44.25x
Portsea 1 1.75x
Portsmouth 1 14.88x
St Anne Soho London 1 12.30x
St Marylebone London 1 1.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 7
Thomas 7
Alfred 6
John 6
Charles 5
William 5
Henry 3
James 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
A. 1
Arthur 1
Carles 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Frederik 1
Leopold 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Max 1
Otto 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1
Theodor 1
W. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Grosse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grosse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Grosse surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grosse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 224 in 2016. That gives Grosse a modern rank of #18,164.

What does the Grosse surname mean?

A descriptive surname referring to a person of large physical stature or great influence and importance.

What does the Grosse map show?

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