UK surname
A surname derived from the German word "grube" meaning a pit or mine.
In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Grub surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #19,999 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rushall, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grub is 178 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.8%.
1881 census count
98
Ranked #19,999
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1851
178 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Grub surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Grub 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 | 178 | #11,397 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 98 | #19,999 |
| 1891 | historical | 44 | #30,838 |
| 1901 | historical | 36 | #30,099 |
| 1911 | historical | 17 | #31,675 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rushall, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton, St Dunstan Stepney, Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) and St Mary Islington. 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 | Rushall | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton | Hertfordshire |
| 3 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) | Cambridgeshire |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Grub 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 Grub, 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 Grub surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Grub 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, Grub 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 Grub is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Grub, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GRUB is believed to have originated in Germany during the medieval period, with some of the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word "grube," which means "pit" or "mine." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with occupations related to mining or quarrying.
One of the earliest known records of the name GRUB can be found in a historical document from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria, dated 1287. This document mentions a certain "Cunrad der Grube," which translates to "Conrad the Pit-Dweller" or "Conrad the Miner."
In the 14th century, the name GRUB appeared in various forms, such as "Grubere" and "Gruber," in regions like Saxony and Thuringia. These variations likely stemmed from local dialects and spellings of the time.
A notable figure bearing the name GRUB was Johann Gruber (1623-1680), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg. He is best known for his sacred choral works and organ compositions, which were widely performed in churches across Germany during his lifetime.
Another individual of historical significance was Hans Grub (1492-1552), a German painter and engraver from Nürnberg. He was renowned for his intricate woodcuts and engravings, many of which depicted religious scenes and portraits of notable figures of the time.
In the 16th century, the GRUB name appeared in records from the city of Augsburg, where a merchant named Matthias Grub (1510-1582) was documented as a prominent trader and member of the city council.
During the 17th century, the GRUB surname spread to other regions of Europe, including the Netherlands and Switzerland. One notable figure from this era was Samuel Grub (1647-1718), a Swiss Protestant theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious topics.
As the centuries progressed, the GRUB name continued to be found across various parts of Germany, with some individuals achieving notable accomplishments in fields such as academia, politics, and the arts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grub 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. Staffordshire leads with 12 Grubs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 12 | 3.76x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.16x |
| Aberdeenshire | 9 | 10.27x |
| Hampshire | 9 | 4.64x |
| Kent | 7 | 2.17x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 3.64x |
| Somerset | 6 | 3.94x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.64x |
| Berkshire | 5 | 7.04x |
| Kincardineshire | 5 | 43.40x |
| Hertfordshire | 4 | 6.14x |
| Sussex | 4 | 2.51x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.68x |
| Angus | 2 | 2.28x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 4.08x |
| Buckinghamshire | 2 | 3.50x |
| Herefordshire | 2 | 5.16x |
| Fife | 1 | 1.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rushall in Staffordshire leads with 12 Grubs recorded in 1881 and an index of 638.30x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Rushall | 12 | 638.30x |
| Portchester | 9 | 3600.00x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 8 | 48.81x |
| Aberdare | 6 | 53.05x |
| Wanstrow | 6 | 5454.55x |
| Deptford St Paul | 5 | 20.09x |
| Maryculter | 5 | 1428.57x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 6.57x |
| Clewer | 4 | 137.46x |
| Great Munden | 4 | 2857.14x |
| Hove | 4 | 57.14x |
| Isleworth | 4 | 95.01x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.52x |
| Dundee | 2 | 6.11x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 2 | 10.49x |
| Knottingley | 2 | 121.21x |
| Luton | 2 | 23.58x |
| Plumstead | 2 | 18.59x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 1 | 5.47x |
| Aston | 1 | 1.52x |
| Ballingham | 1 | 714.29x |
| Bradford | 1 | 4.41x |
| Filey | 1 | 131.58x |
| Hampton Bishop | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Kinghorn | 1 | 84.03x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 9.63x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 4.97x |
| Swanbourne | 1 | 625.00x |
| Wantage | 1 | 88.50x |
| Wilnecote | 1 | 147.06x |
| Wing | 1 | 188.68x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Grub 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 Grub 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 Grub households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 22 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 2 |
| Ag Lab (Cat) | 1 |
| Barmaid Inn | 1 |
| Boatman | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Dock Lab. | 1 |
| Dom Cook | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Greengrocer | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Iron Mongers Assist | 1 |
| Journeyman Baker | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Laborer Other U 8 (Armour Plateworks) | 1 |
| Late Carrier | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Navey | 1 |
| Packer On Railway | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Railway Porter Wife | 1 |
| Straw Hat Finisher | 1 |
| Widow Pensioner 3rd Buffs | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
| Wife Ag Lab (Cat) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Grub surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Grub a modern rank of #37,501.
A surname derived from the German word "grube" meaning a pit or mine.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grub 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.