NameCensus.

UK surname

Grover

An English occupational surname for a person who tended or managed a grove of trees.

In the 1881 census there were 1,870 people recorded with the Grover surname, ranking it #2,328 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,594, ranked #2,563, down from #2,328 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Wealden and Hounslow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grover is 2,715 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.7%.

1881 census count

1,870

Ranked #2,328

Modern count

2,594

2016, ranked #2,563

Peak year

1911

2,715 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grover had 1,870 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,328 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,594 in 2016, ranked #2,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,715 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Grover surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grover surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Grover 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 1,375 #2,085
1861 historical 1,554 #1,827
1881 historical 1,870 #2,328
1891 historical 2,344 #2,004
1901 historical 2,450 #2,225
1911 historical 2,715 #1,906
1997 modern 2,452 #2,564
1998 modern 2,491 #2,623
1999 modern 2,509 #2,628
2000 modern 2,500 #2,619
2001 modern 2,430 #2,622
2002 modern 2,492 #2,627
2003 modern 2,407 #2,648
2004 modern 2,432 #2,630
2005 modern 2,425 #2,607
2006 modern 2,405 #2,628
2007 modern 2,436 #2,625
2008 modern 2,462 #2,621
2009 modern 2,529 #2,616
2010 modern 2,630 #2,586
2011 modern 2,601 #2,579
2012 modern 2,557 #2,568
2013 modern 2,630 #2,556
2014 modern 2,649 #2,548
2015 modern 2,599 #2,564
2016 modern 2,594 #2,563

Geography

Back to top

Where Grovers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, Brighton and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing, Wealden, Hounslow and Thurrock. 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 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Brighton Sussex
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 037 Ealing
2 Wealden 018 Wealden
3 Hounslow 010 Hounslow
4 Thurrock 002 Thurrock
5 Ealing 038 Ealing

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Grover

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Grover

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Grover surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Grover household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Grover is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grover 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

Grover 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 Grover 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Grover

The surname Grover has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "grofere," which referred to a person who worked as a grove keeper or forester.

In medieval times, the role of a grove keeper was crucial, as they were responsible for maintaining and protecting the woodlands and forests, which were often owned by wealthy landowners or the Crown. The name Grover likely originated as an occupational surname, given to individuals who held this profession.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Grover can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a certain Robert le Grover is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century.

The name Grover has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Grover's Hill in Oxfordshire and Grover's Lane in Buckinghamshire. These place names may have contributed to the development of the surname, as individuals were often identified by the area they resided in or originated from.

In the 14th century, the Grover surname appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a record of landowners and tenants in the region. This further solidifies the presence of the name in medieval England.

One notable figure bearing the Grover surname was Sir Thomas Grover, a prominent English landowner and politician who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire in 1604.

Another significant individual was John Grover, an English Puritan minister who immigrated to New England in the 17th century. He served as the minister of the First Church of Beverley in Massachusetts from 1649 until his death in 1687.

In the literary world, Andrew Grover was an English writer and translator who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He is best known for his translations of classical Greek and Latin works.

Moving into the 19th century, Thomas Grover was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Waterloo Road and the former Royal Mint building on Tower Hill.

Lastly, Alfred Grover was a prominent English cricketer who played for Surrey and the Marylebone Cricket Club in the late 19th century. He was born in 1857 and played in several high-profile matches during his career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Grover families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grover 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 456 Grovers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.51x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 456 2.51x
Surrey 425 4.80x
Sussex 246 8.02x
Kent 131 2.11x
Essex 102 2.84x
Hertfordshire 102 8.14x
Hampshire 92 2.47x
Berkshire 67 4.91x
Buckinghamshire 38 3.46x
Lancashire 30 0.14x
Yorkshire 26 0.14x
Glamorgan 19 0.60x
Cambridgeshire 12 1.04x
Devon 11 0.29x
Gloucestershire 11 0.31x
Cheshire 10 0.25x
Bedfordshire 9 0.96x
Leicestershire 9 0.45x
Lincolnshire 9 0.31x
Norfolk 8 0.29x
Somerset 8 0.27x
Lanarkshire 6 0.10x
Staffordshire 6 0.10x
Warwickshire 5 0.11x
Durham 4 0.07x
Herefordshire 4 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.12x
Cornwall 2 0.10x
Dorset 2 0.17x
Nairnshire 2 3.60x
Suffolk 2 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.28x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x
Oxfordshire 1 0.09x
Wiltshire 1 0.06x
Worcestershire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 69 Grovers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.16x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 69 11.16x
Lambeth 63 3.97x
Camberwell 49 4.22x
Islington London 42 2.38x
West Ham 41 5.17x
Bermondsey 38 7.02x
Farnham 35 50.81x
Newington 35 5.21x
Watford 33 33.96x
St Marylebone London 30 3.09x
Hammersmith London 29 6.47x
Fletching 28 204.08x
Hackney London 25 2.45x
St Pancras London 25 1.71x
Battersea 24 3.59x
Mile End Old Town London 21 5.43x
Kingsley 20 701.75x
Penge 20 17.22x
Shoreditch London 20 2.54x
St George Hanover Square 20 6.24x
Tottenham 18 6.22x
Deptford St Paul 17 3.55x
Kensington London 17 1.68x
Lewisham 17 5.14x
Poplar London 17 4.95x
Sompting 17 400.94x
Southwark St George Martyr 17 4.65x
Corringham 16 590.41x
Greenwich 16 5.53x
Hampstead London 16 5.65x
Northchurch 15 112.11x
Patcham 15 272.73x
Reading St Mary 15 13.72x
Stoke 15 35.88x
Reading St Giles 14 10.45x
Farringdon 13 357.14x
Mortlake 13 32.92x
Shinfield 13 161.89x
St Albans St Peter 13 30.74x
Chailey 12 126.32x
Clerkenwell London 12 2.80x
Newick 12 178.04x
Paddington London 12 1.79x
Clapham 11 4.84x
Guildford St Mary 11 100.92x
Llanwonno 11 9.67x
Stoke Newington London 11 7.77x
Binsted 10 70.37x
Chelsea London 10 1.83x
Earley 10 43.98x
Heston 10 16.56x
Hove 10 7.43x
Lancing 10 118.76x
Maidstone 10 5.41x
Putney 10 12.07x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.14x
Great Missenden 9 66.47x
Hemel Hempstead 9 15.94x
Hughenden 9 80.21x
New Shoreham 9 48.99x
Tonbridge 9 4.02x
Barking 8 7.62x
Burghfield 8 99.13x
Ealing 8 4.92x
Friern Barnet 8 19.98x
Fulham London 8 3.03x
Prestwich 8 14.86x
Rickmansworth 8 23.18x
Rotherhithe 8 3.56x
Sevenoaks 8 15.90x
Sheffield 8 1.39x
St George In East London 8 4.68x
Westminster St James 8 4.28x
East Worldham 7 424.24x
Hornsey 7 3.04x
Little Ilford 7 112.72x
Peover Superior 7 184.21x
Ruislip 7 77.35x
Worplesdon 7 65.54x
Tendring St Nicolas 6 164.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 86
Sarah 61
Elizabeth 58
Ann 36
Eliza 36
Alice 35
Emily 35
Emma 32
Ellen 31
Annie 29
Jane 24
Charlotte 21
Fanny 18
Harriet 17
Caroline 15
Florence 15
Edith 13
Lucy 13
Susan 13
Louisa 12
Martha 12
Amelia 11
Hannah 11
Ada 10
Kate 10
Agnes 9
Catherine 8
Frances 8
Margaret 8
Anne 7
Harriett 7
Jessie 7
Maria 7
Amy 6
Clara 6
Julia 6
Matilda 6
Rose 6
Eleanor 5
Ethel 5
Ruth 5
Bessie 4
Elizth. 4
Esther 4
Grace 4
Lillian 4
Minnie 4
Rebecca 4
Sophia 4
Lizzie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 105
George 97
John 90
James 67
Henry 56
Thomas 53
Charles 48
Alfred 32
Frederick 28
Arthur 22
Edward 22
Albert 21
Harry 19
Samuel 19
Frank 13
Joseph 12
Walter 12
Francis 11
Robert 11
Ernest 10
Fredrick 7
Herbert 7
Edwin 5
Percy 5
Sidney 5
Stephen 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
Chas. 4
Daniel 4
David 4
Geo. 4
Montague 4
Richard 4
Clement 3
Fred 3
Frederic 3
Fredk. 3
Harold 3
Josiah 3
Thos. 3
Ebenezer 2
Edmund 2
G. 2
Job 2
Michael 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Sydney 2
Tom 2

FAQ

Grover surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grover surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,870 people were recorded with the Grover surname. That placed it at #2,328 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grover surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,594 in 2016. That gives Grover a modern rank of #2,563.

What does the Grover surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a person who tended or managed a grove of trees.

What does the Grover map show?

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