UK surname
A German surname meaning "green" or relating to the color green.
In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Grun surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 55, ranked #34,627, down from #31,761 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth, East Meon (incl. Westbury & Peak) and Earsdon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grun is 203 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 323.1%.
1881 census count
13
Ranked #31,761
Modern count
55
2016, ranked #34,627
Peak year
1861
203 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Grun surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Grun surname density by area, 1891 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 | 94 | #17,837 |
| 1861 | historical | 203 | #11,865 |
| 1881 | historical | 13 | #31,761 |
| 1891 | historical | 107 | #22,967 |
| 1901 | historical | 57 | #27,846 |
| 1911 | historical | 35 | #29,478 |
| 1997 | modern | 43 | #33,361 |
| 1998 | modern | 42 | #33,651 |
| 1999 | modern | 45 | #33,511 |
| 2000 | modern | 43 | #33,709 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 48 | #33,459 |
| 2003 | modern | 47 | #33,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 45 | #33,957 |
| 2005 | modern | 43 | #34,328 |
| 2006 | modern | 46 | #34,415 |
| 2007 | modern | 47 | #34,558 |
| 2008 | modern | 48 | #34,629 |
| 2009 | modern | 45 | #34,972 |
| 2010 | modern | 49 | #34,886 |
| 2011 | modern | 52 | #34,688 |
| 2012 | modern | 45 | #35,105 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 53 | #34,753 |
| 2015 | modern | 53 | #34,726 |
| 2016 | modern | 55 | #34,627 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth, East Meon (incl. Westbury & Peak), Earsdon, Cardington and Chesterfield. 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 | Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth | Huntingdonshire |
| 2 | East Meon (incl. Westbury & Peak) | Hampshire |
| 3 | Earsdon | Northumberland |
| 4 | Cardington | Bedfordshire |
| 5 | Chesterfield | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Grun 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 Grun, 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 Grun surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Grun 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, Grun 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 Grun is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Grun, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GRUN originated in Germany and has its roots dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old German word "grun," which means green. It is believed that the name was initially given to individuals who lived near a green area or a forest.
In the 14th century, there are records of individuals with the surname GRUN in the town of Heilbronn, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The name is also found in manuscripts from the same period in the region of Bavaria.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name GRUN is Johannes Grun, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1480 to 1550. He was a prominent artist during the Renaissance period and is known for his religious paintings and engravings.
Another notable figure with the surname GRUN was Anastasius Grün, a German poet and political writer who lived from 1806 to 1876. He was a prominent figure in the German literary scene and wrote several works that explored themes of nationalism and revolution.
In the 19th century, the surname GRUN was also associated with the town of Grünau, located in the German state of Saxony. The town's name, which means "green meadow," may have contributed to the surname's popularity in the region.
Kaspar Grün, a German philosopher and theologian who lived from 1801 to 1871, was another individual with the surname GRUN. He was known for his work on the philosophy of religion and made significant contributions to the field of German idealism.
The name GRUN was also found among German immigrants who settled in other parts of Europe and the Americas. One such example is Carl Grun, a German-American architect who lived from 1867 to 1942. He was known for his work on several notable buildings in Chicago, including the Auditorium Building and the Studebaker Theater.
While the surname GRUN has its origins in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the green meadows and forests of its German homeland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grun 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. Middlesex leads with 6 Gruns recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 6 | 4.73x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 1.33x |
| Caithness | 1 | 57.47x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 2.44x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 5.13x |
| Sussex | 1 | 4.68x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.80x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westminster St Margaret in Middlesex leads with 2 Gruns recorded in 1881 and an index of 327.87x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster St Margaret | 2 | 327.87x |
| Barony | 1 | 9.63x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 84.03x |
| Dunnet | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Great Bolton | 1 | 50.25x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 1 | 322.58x |
| Leeds | 1 | 14.10x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 37.04x |
| Norwich St Mary In Marsh | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 105.26x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 44.84x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 9.79x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Grun 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 Grun 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 Grun households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Courier (Messenger) | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom Serv | 1 |
| Journeyman Baker | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Piecer In A Cotton Mill | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Grun surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 55 in 2016. That gives Grun a modern rank of #34,627.
A German surname meaning "green" or relating to the color green.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grun 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.