NameCensus.

UK surname

Grossett

Of French origin, referring to a big or large person.

In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Grossett surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 205, ranked #19,250, up from #28,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Monifieth East, Rugby and Croydon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grossett is 215 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 502.9%.

1881 census count

34

Ranked #28,837

Modern count

205

2016, ranked #19,250

Peak year

2010

215 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grossett had 34 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016, ranked #19,250.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 59 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Grossett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grossett surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grossett 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 13 #32,208
1881 historical 34 #28,837
1891 historical 53 #29,946
1901 historical 59 #27,609
1911 historical 40 #28,913
1997 modern 141 #21,941
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 160 #20,903
2001 modern 155 #21,047
2002 modern 164 #20,687
2003 modern 170 #20,023
2004 modern 186 #19,059
2005 modern 186 #18,985
2006 modern 186 #19,140
2007 modern 193 #18,923
2008 modern 190 #19,246
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 215 #18,551
2011 modern 208 #18,783
2012 modern 203 #19,025
2013 modern 202 #19,389
2014 modern 208 #19,194
2015 modern 204 #19,331
2016 modern 205 #19,250

Geography

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Where Grossetts 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 Monifieth East, Rugby, Croydon, Redcar and Cleveland and Weymouth and Portland. 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 Monifieth East Angus
2 Rugby 005 Rugby
3 Croydon 002 Croydon
4 Redcar and Cleveland 019 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Weymouth and Portland 002 Weymouth and Portland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grossett

These lists show first names that appear often with the Grossett 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 Grossett

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Grossett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Grossett 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Grossett 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

Grossett 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

Grossett falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grossett 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Grossett

The surname Grossett is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "grosse," which means "large" or "fat." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone of a large or stout build.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Cartulaire de Notre-Dame de Paris, a medieval manuscript from the late 12th century, which mentions a person named Grossetus. This indicates that variations of the name were already in use by that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Grosset, Grossett, and Grossette in various regions of France, including Normandy, Burgundy, and Champagne. It is possible that the name may have been associated with certain occupations or trades that required physical strength, such as blacksmithing or agriculture.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Grossett family was well-established in the region of Normandy. Records from this time period mention several notable individuals bearing the name, including Jacques Grossett (1542-1612), a prominent merchant in Rouen, and Marie Grossett (1587-1668), a philanthropist known for her charitable works in the city of Caen.

In the 18th century, the Grossett name spread to other parts of Europe, including England and Scotland. One notable figure was John Grossett (1727-1809), a Scottish merchant and landowner who established a successful trading business in Glasgow.

Another prominent individual with the Grossett surname was Charles Grossett (1781-1856), a French politician and lawyer who served as a member of the French National Assembly during the early 19th century.

By the 19th century, the Grossett name had also made its way to North America, where it was found among French-Canadian and British immigrant communities. One notable American bearing the name was William Grossett (1845-1919), a successful industrialist and founder of the Grossett Publishing Company, which published popular literature and educational materials.

Throughout its history, the Grossett surname has been associated with various occupations and social classes, ranging from merchants and landowners to politicians and industrialists. While its origins can be traced back to medieval France, the name has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the mobility and diversity of human migration patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grossett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grossett 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. Midlothian leads with 11 Grossetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.76x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 11 24.76x
Lancashire 9 2.29x
Durham 6 6.08x
Kent 5 4.42x
Berwickshire 2 49.75x
Hampshire 1 1.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 10 Grossetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.96x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 55.96x
Hulme 9 109.62x
Winlaton 6 631.58x
Plumstead 5 132.63x
Dunse 2 526.32x
Edinburgh St Andrews 1 270.27x
Farnborough 1 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Jane 2
Barbra 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Robert 3
William 3
Alexr.G. 1
Andrew 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Geo.W. 1
John 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 Grossett households.

FAQ

Grossett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grossett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Grossett surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grossett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016. That gives Grossett a modern rank of #19,250.

What does the Grossett surname mean?

Of French origin, referring to a big or large person.

What does the Grossett map show?

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