UK surname
An occupational surname for a farmer or someone who cultivates plants.
In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Grow surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #29,484 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St James Clerkenwell, Hale, Great and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grow is 128 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.6%.
1881 census count
29
Ranked #29,484
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1861
128 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Grow surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Grow surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 18 | #30,094 |
| 1861 | historical | 128 | #17,375 |
| 1881 | historical | 29 | #29,484 |
| 1891 | historical | 57 | #29,533 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 31 | #29,952 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 11 | #37,467 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St James Clerkenwell, Hale, Great, Glasgow, London parishes and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 2 | Hale, Great | Lincolnshire |
| 3 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 4 | London parishes | London 2 |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Grow surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Grow, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Grow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Grow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Grow is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Grow, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Grow is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English word "growan," which meant "to grow" or "to flourish." This surname likely referred to someone who lived near a grove or worked as a gardener or farmer.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Grow surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Groue." This entry suggests that the name was already in use during the late 11th century in various areas of England.
In the 13th century, the surname was also spelled as "Growe" and "Grover," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. Some of the earliest recorded bearers of the name include William Growe, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, and John Grover, who was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.
The Grow surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire, where it was often associated with rural settlements and villages. One notable example is the village of Growmore in Gloucestershire, which may have derived its name from the Grow family or vice versa.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Grow surname. One of the earliest was Robert Grow (c. 1570-1640), an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious topics. Later, in the 18th century, Robert Grow (1718-1798) was a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Cricklade in Wiltshire.
In the 19th century, Galusha A. Grow (1822-1907) was an influential American politician who served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1861 to 1863. Another notable figure was Nathaniel Chew Grow (1833-1892), an American Civil War officer who fought for the Union Army and later became a respected lawyer and judge.
One of the most famous bearers of the Grow surname was Graham Grow (1918-1996), a British actor and film director who appeared in numerous TV shows and movies throughout his career, including iconic roles in "The Prisoner" and "Steptoe and Son."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grow surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 6 Grows recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 6 | 5.74x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 1.97x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 2.33x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.94x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 7.36x |
| Somerset | 1 | 2.90x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1.38x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.85x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clapham in Surrey leads with 6 Grows recorded in 1881 and an index of 223.88x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clapham | 6 | 223.88x |
| Pemberton | 4 | 396.04x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 3 | 65.79x |
| Bethnal Green London | 2 | 21.46x |
| Burton Agnes | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Aston | 1 | 6.72x |
| Burnley | 1 | 46.73x |
| March | 1 | 222.22x |
| Meare | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 13.02x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Grow surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Grow surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Grow households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| (c.) Weaver | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Baker (Journeyman) | 1 |
| Bakers Assistant | 1 |
| Bread Baker | 1 |
| China & Glass Dealer | 1 |
| Coachman (6/2) | 1 |
| Muni Nurse | 1 |
| Stableman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Grow surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Grow a modern rank of #37,385.
An occupational surname for a farmer or someone who cultivates plants.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grow bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.