NameCensus.

UK surname

Grundy

From the Old English for "green valley" or "green pasture," likely referring to a person who lived near one.

In the 1881 census there were 6,133 people recorded with the Grundy surname, ranking it #710 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,211, ranked #1,087, down from #710 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eccles, Manchester and Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grundy is 7,946 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.3%.

1881 census count

6,133

Ranked #710

Modern count

6,211

2016, ranked #1,087

Peak year

1911

7,946 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grundy had 6,133 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #710 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,211 in 2016, ranked #1,087.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,946 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Grundy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grundy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grundy 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 3,465 #822
1861 historical 3,381 #842
1881 historical 6,133 #710
1891 historical 6,004 #778
1901 historical 7,347 #737
1911 historical 7,946 #642
1997 modern 6,556 #990
1998 modern 6,797 #993
1999 modern 6,931 #982
2000 modern 6,832 #988
2001 modern 6,737 #985
2002 modern 6,888 #985
2003 modern 6,673 #990
2004 modern 6,569 #1,009
2005 modern 6,411 #1,020
2006 modern 6,347 #1,033
2007 modern 6,372 #1,035
2008 modern 6,406 #1,034
2009 modern 6,543 #1,037
2010 modern 6,595 #1,047
2011 modern 6,421 #1,064
2012 modern 6,192 #1,082
2013 modern 6,316 #1,079
2014 modern 6,340 #1,080
2015 modern 6,265 #1,082
2016 modern 6,211 #1,087

Geography

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Where Grundys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eccles, Manchester, Dean, Leigh and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan and Bolton. 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 Eccles Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Dean Lancashire
4 Leigh Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 023 Wigan
2 Wigan 029 Wigan
3 Wigan 025 Wigan
4 Wigan 017 Wigan
5 Bolton 029 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grundy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grundy

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Grundy 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

Grundy 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

Grundy falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grundy 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 Grundy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Grundy

The surname Grundy is an ancient English surname with origins dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words 'grund' meaning ground or bottom, and 'ey' meaning island or low-lying land. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived on a low-lying or marshy area of land.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Grundy name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as 'Grundy'. The name is also listed in the Domesday Book of 1086, recorded as 'Grundie', referring to a landowner in the county of Cheshire.

The Grundy surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Lancashire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire during the medieval period. It is likely that the name originated in these areas, as many early records of the name can be found in these regions.

In the 16th century, the surname was sometimes spelled as 'Grundie' or 'Grunndye', reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. One notable figure with this surname was Sir Randolph Grundy (1525-1592), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Staffordshire.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Grundy name continued to be found throughout northern England, with many families residing in the towns and villages of Lancashire and Cheshire. One notable individual from this period was John Grundy (1677-1748), a successful merchant and landowner from Manchester.

In the 19th century, the Grundy surname began to spread more widely across England and beyond. One famous bearer of the name was Frederick Grundy (1840-1909), a renowned English poet and literary critic. Another notable figure was Sydney Grundy (1848-1914), a playwright and dramatist whose works were popular in both England and America.

Other notable individuals with the Grundy surname include Joseph Grundy (1854-1930), a successful industrialist and founder of the Grundy Machine Works in Bury, Lancashire, and Eliza Grundy (1809-1888), a pioneer of women's education who established several schools for girls in the north of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grundy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grundy 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. Lancashire leads with 3,627 Grundys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.11x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,627 5.11x
Cheshire 325 2.46x
Yorkshire 316 0.53x
Lincolnshire 254 2.66x
Derbyshire 223 2.38x
Nottinghamshire 184 2.28x
Leicestershire 168 2.53x
Durham 162 0.91x
Staffordshire 155 0.77x
Middlesex 120 0.20x
Worcestershire 90 1.15x
Surrey 82 0.28x
Warwickshire 72 0.48x
Northumberland 63 0.71x
Kent 61 0.30x
Herefordshire 28 1.14x
Devon 26 0.21x
Hampshire 23 0.19x
Berkshire 21 0.47x
Essex 16 0.14x
Gloucestershire 14 0.12x
East Lothian 11 1.39x
Brecknockshire 10 0.84x
Hertfordshire 8 0.19x
Oxfordshire 7 0.19x
Cumberland 6 0.12x
Flintshire 6 0.37x
Northamptonshire 6 0.11x
Ayrshire 4 0.09x
Bedfordshire 4 0.13x
Monmouthshire 4 0.09x
Somerset 4 0.04x
Sussex 4 0.04x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.08x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.06x
Channel Islands 2 0.11x
Cornwall 2 0.03x
Fife 2 0.06x
Lanarkshire 2 0.01x
Norfolk 2 0.02x
Stirlingshire 2 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.08x
Kincardineshire 1 0.14x
Midlothian 1 0.01x
Shetland 1 0.16x
West Lothian 1 0.11x
Westmorland 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. Tyldesley Cum Shakerley in Lancashire leads with 142 Grundys recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.51x.

Place Total Index
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 142 69.51x
Worsley 136 31.09x
Little Hulton 135 114.88x
Astley 133 242.97x
Farnworth 125 29.40x
Great Bolton 125 13.30x
Pendleton In Salford 124 14.67x
Little Bolton 119 13.04x
Manchester 102 3.20x
Atherton 89 34.45x
Wigan 72 7.26x
Middleton In Oldham 71 33.37x
Oldham 70 3.06x
Ashton Under Lyne 64 4.13x
Barton Upon Irwell 63 11.79x
Salford 63 3.02x
Bedford 59 39.75x
Pilkington 58 21.51x
Preston 57 3.00x
Hindley 55 18.18x
Nottingham St Mary 55 2.64x
Westleigh 55 34.13x
Westhoughton 53 27.98x
Bury 51 6.29x
Dukinfield 48 7.87x
Loughborough 48 15.95x
Halliwell 47 18.20x
Little Lever 47 51.79x
Blackburn 46 2.44x
Windle 46 11.52x
Hulme 45 3.04x
Pemberton 45 15.90x
Everton 41 1.81x
Kearsley 41 27.46x
Liverpool 41 0.95x
Chorlton On Medlock 40 3.55x
Radcliffe 37 10.82x
Stoke Upon Trent 37 1.73x
Eccleston In Prescot 35 9.82x
Leicester St Margaret 34 2.10x
Pendlebury 32 21.36x
West Derby 31 1.49x
Aspull 29 17.37x
Wheelton 28 88.19x
Bosden 26 64.18x
Sheffield 26 1.38x
Tonge With Haulgh 26 18.82x
Birkenhead 25 2.38x
Middle Hulton 25 59.48x
Winlaton 25 14.65x
Basford 24 6.46x
Broughton In Salford 24 3.70x
Lamesley 24 25.06x
Alfreton 23 8.09x
Horwich 23 29.71x
Newton 23 4.20x
Ashby De La Zouch 22 14.31x
Barlborough 22 63.55x
Ince In Makerfield 21 6.36x
Darcy Lever 20 48.95x
Great Lever 20 26.56x
Hackney London 20 0.60x
Louth 20 9.13x
Stockport 20 2.94x
Birmingham 19 0.38x
Bradford 19 1.32x
Cheadle 19 7.53x
Chorley 19 4.77x
Lenton 19 10.01x
Pennington In Leigh 19 13.95x
Gorton 18 2.70x
Holywell 18 39.32x
Long Eaton 18 14.56x
Toxteth Park 18 0.75x
Holy Trinity 17 1.19x
Warrington 17 2.02x
Ainsworth 16 58.25x
Kirkdale 16 1.34x
Sharples 16 20.78x
Stretford 16 4.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 473
Elizabeth 275
Sarah 233
Alice 163
Ann 144
Ellen 134
Jane 115
Margaret 93
Annie 85
Martha 82
Hannah 76
Eliza 73
Emma 53
Emily 49
Betsy 37
Harriet 35
Edith 34
Ada 33
Catherine 27
Fanny 27
Lucy 27
Maria 27
Agnes 26
Charlotte 26
Anne 23
Esther 22
Kate 22
Amelia 21
Betty 21
Clara 21
Louisa 20
Frances 18
Nancy 18
Florence 17
Caroline 15
Elizth. 15
Bertha 14
Rachel 14
Gertrude 13
Isabella 13
Harriett 12
Rebecca 11
Margt. 10
Ruth 10
Sophia 10
Julia 9
Lydia 9
Eleanor 8
Ethel 8
Rose 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 416
William 345
Thomas 262
James 258
George 142
Joseph 127
Robert 105
Henry 99
Charles 78
Richard 70
Samuel 67
Alfred 51
Albert 43
Walter 43
Edward 42
David 41
Frederick 41
Peter 38
Arthur 36
Harry 33
Wm. 24
Daniel 20
Frank 20
Fred 20
Herbert 20
Ralph 18
Edwin 17
Thos. 17
Ernest 15
Adam 14
Edmund 14
Francis 13
Benjamin 10
Jesse 10
Isaac 8
Joshua 8
Josiah 8
Percy 8
Tom 8
Andrew 7
Geo. 7
Jno. 7
Dennis 6
Sydney 6
Christopher 5
Fredrick 5
Harold 5
Jas. 5
Silas 5
Stephen 5

FAQ

Grundy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grundy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,133 people were recorded with the Grundy surname. That placed it at #710 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grundy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,211 in 2016. That gives Grundy a modern rank of #1,087.

What does the Grundy surname mean?

From the Old English for "green valley" or "green pasture," likely referring to a person who lived near one.

What does the Grundy map show?

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