NameCensus.

UK surname

Grosvenor

A surname derived from the Norman French words "gros" and "venor" meaning a person involved with large game hunting.

In the 1881 census there were 664 people recorded with the Grosvenor surname, ranking it #5,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,374, ranked #4,389, up from #5,418 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Malvern Hills, Shropshire and Canterbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grosvenor is 1,461 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 106.9%.

1881 census count

664

Ranked #5,418

Modern count

1,374

2016, ranked #4,389

Peak year

2011

1,461 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grosvenor had 664 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,418 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,374 in 2016, ranked #4,389.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,020 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Grosvenor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grosvenor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grosvenor 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 302 #7,606
1861 historical 276 #9,052
1881 historical 664 #5,418
1891 historical 727 #5,445
1901 historical 945 #4,951
1911 historical 1,020 #4,475
1997 modern 1,320 #4,342
1998 modern 1,432 #4,203
1999 modern 1,421 #4,251
2000 modern 1,408 #4,267
2001 modern 1,397 #4,228
2002 modern 1,420 #4,244
2003 modern 1,404 #4,222
2004 modern 1,383 #4,271
2005 modern 1,377 #4,251
2006 modern 1,399 #4,193
2007 modern 1,393 #4,249
2008 modern 1,422 #4,211
2009 modern 1,442 #4,240
2010 modern 1,455 #4,286
2011 modern 1,461 #4,222
2012 modern 1,415 #4,270
2013 modern 1,408 #4,349
2014 modern 1,410 #4,364
2015 modern 1,383 #4,393
2016 modern 1,374 #4,389

Geography

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Where Grosvenors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, St Mary Islington and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Malvern Hills, Shropshire, Canterbury and Dudley. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Malvern Hills 001 Malvern Hills
2 Shropshire 039 Shropshire
3 Canterbury 003 Canterbury
4 Dudley 013 Dudley
5 Canterbury 001 Canterbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grosvenor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grosvenor

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Grosvenor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Grosvenor household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Grosvenor 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

Grosvenor 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

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

Meaning and origin of Grosvenor

The surname Grosvenor has its origins in the Norman French language and dates back to the 11th century. It is derived from the words "gros" meaning "great" and "veneor" meaning "hunter". The name likely referred to someone who was an accomplished hunter or huntsman.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Grosvenor" and "Grovenor". This suggests the name was already well-established among the Norman aristocracy who settled in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In the 12th century, the Grosvenor family held lands in Cheshire, England, particularly around the area of Hulme near Manchester. The family coat of arms featured a hunting horn, further reinforcing the name's association with hunting.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert Grosvenor, who lived in the late 12th century and served as a baron under King Richard I. His descendants continued to hold prominent positions in Cheshire for several centuries.

The name also has connections to place names in Cheshire, such as Grosvenor Square in Chester and the township of Grosvenor. These place names likely derive from the family name rather than the other way around.

Another notable figure with the surname was Thomas Grosvenor (1565-1622), who served as a Member of Parliament for Chester in the early 17th century. He was instrumental in securing the city's charter and privileges.

In the 18th century, Sir Robert Grosvenor (1676-1733) became the 6th Baronet of the Grosvenor family. He was a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament, and his descendant Richard Grosvenor (1731-1802) was elevated to the peerage as the 1st Earl Grosvenor in 1784.

The Grosvenor family's wealth and influence continued to grow in the 19th century, with Hugh Grosvenor (1825-1899), the 1st Duke of Westminster, becoming one of the richest men in Britain through his extensive land holdings in London's Mayfair district.

Throughout its history, the surname Grosvenor has been associated with nobility, landownership, and hunting, reflecting its Norman French origins and the family's prominent role in the history of Cheshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grosvenor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grosvenor 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. Staffordshire leads with 178 Grosvenors recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.12x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 178 8.12x
Middlesex 107 1.65x
Worcestershire 57 6.72x
Warwickshire 42 2.56x
Gloucestershire 35 2.75x
Lancashire 28 0.36x
Shropshire 27 4.81x
Yorkshire 26 0.40x
Cheshire 23 1.60x
Nottinghamshire 23 2.63x
Herefordshire 22 8.26x
Surrey 18 0.57x
Somerset 13 1.24x
Sussex 11 1.00x
Dorset 8 1.88x
Essex 8 0.62x
Kent 7 0.32x
Devon 5 0.37x
Hertfordshire 5 1.12x
Northamptonshire 5 0.82x
Lanarkshire 4 0.19x
Derbyshire 3 0.30x
Northumberland 3 0.31x
Durham 2 0.10x
Glamorgan 2 0.18x
Isle of Man 2 1.66x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.25x
Hampshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolverhampton in Staffordshire leads with 43 Grosvenors recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.50x.

Place Total Index
Wolverhampton 43 25.50x
Stoke Upon Trent 24 10.32x
Tipton 23 34.25x
Birmingham 19 3.48x
Burslem 19 30.25x
Mansfield 18 59.41x
Islington London 17 2.70x
St George Hanover Square 15 13.11x
Dudley 14 13.57x
Kensington London 14 3.88x
Kingswinford 14 17.58x
Ludlow St Lawrence 14 125.34x
St Marylebone London 14 4.04x
Shoreditch London 12 4.26x
Eye 10 636.94x
Olveston 10 279.33x
Sedgley 10 12.28x
The Hill 10 183.49x
Farndon 9 725.81x
Newington 9 3.75x
Wellington 9 28.54x
Docklow 8 1860.47x
Wolstanton 8 12.01x
Aston 7 1.55x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 5.84x
Church Coppenhall 7 109.20x
Everton 7 2.85x
Heaton Norris 7 15.95x
Mile End Old Town London 7 5.06x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 7 134.10x
Wednesfield 7 21.69x
Congleton 6 24.21x
Longhope 6 277.78x
Rowley Regis 6 9.82x
West Bromwich 6 454.55x
Wichenford 6 705.88x
Barrow In Furness 5 4.77x
Brackley St James 5 357.14x
Brighton 5 2.26x
Broom 5 1724.14x
Cheddleton 5 108.93x
Chipping Barnet 5 63.86x
Codsall 5 160.26x
Cradley 5 65.19x
Edgbaston 5 9.84x
Kinson 5 60.02x
Knighton On Teme 5 877.19x
Long Riston 5 609.76x
Lyncombe Widcombe 5 18.26x
Manchester 5 1.44x
Rothwell 5 38.46x
Southam 5 125.63x
St Pancras London 5 0.96x
Westbury On Severn East 5 17.36x
Westminster St James 5 7.49x
Barony 4 0.75x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.42x
Castle Cary 4 87.72x
Leyton 4 18.11x
Cheltenham 3 3.05x
Edmonton 3 5.73x
Enville 3 174.42x
Folkestone 3 6.98x
Holy Trinity 3 1.94x
Hornsey 3 3.65x
Hove 3 6.24x
Knowle 3 89.02x
Leeds 3 0.83x
North Shields 3 15.55x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.32x
Parkstone 3 60.36x
South Weald 3 27.32x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.29x
Stafford St Mary 3 9.66x
Sutton 3 13.10x
Tormoham 3 5.24x
Walcot 3 5.39x
Alvechurch 2 55.40x
Lapley 2 121.21x
West Grinstead 2 60.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Elizabeth 27
Sarah 19
Emma 15
Eliza 14
Emily 13
Ann 11
Ellen 10
Alice 8
Frances 7
Jane 7
Annie 6
Edith 6
Martha 6
Harriet 5
Margaret 5
Maria 5
Ada 4
Amelia 4
Anne 4
Caroline 4
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Lucy 4
Maud 4
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Blanche 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Fanny 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Beatrice 2
Esther 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Lavinia 2
Lilly 2
Margret 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Elanor 1
Elearnor 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
William 33
Thomas 25
George 24
James 21
Arthur 10
Joseph 10
Samuel 10
Henry 9
Edward 8
Frank 8
Frederick 8
Charles 7
Robert 7
Alfred 6
Edwin 6
Herbert 6
Richard 6
Harry 4
Wm. 4
Albert 3
David 3
Fredk. 3
Walter 3
Abel 2
Bower 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Jabez 2
Job 2
Philip 2
Thos. 2
Auther 1
Chas.A. 1
Chetwynd 1
Elijah 1
Esmond 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk.A. 1
Fredrick 1
Hy. 1
Infant 1
Isaiah 1
J.S. 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1

FAQ

Grosvenor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grosvenor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 664 people were recorded with the Grosvenor surname. That placed it at #5,418 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grosvenor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,374 in 2016. That gives Grosvenor a modern rank of #4,389.

What does the Grosvenor surname mean?

A surname derived from the Norman French words "gros" and "venor" meaning a person involved with large game hunting.

What does the Grosvenor map show?

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