NameCensus.

UK surname

Grylls

A habitational surname indicating someone from a particular area or place name.

In the 1881 census there were 134 people recorded with the Grylls surname, ranking it #16,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 220, ranked #18,376, down from #16,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, Egloskerry and Gainsborough, Paddocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, Hartlepool and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grylls is 231 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.2%.

1881 census count

134

Ranked #16,602

Modern count

220

2016, ranked #18,376

Peak year

2013

231 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grylls had 134 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 220 in 2016, ranked #18,376.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 208 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Grylls surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grylls surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grylls 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 116 #15,545
1861 historical 109 #19,693
1881 historical 134 #16,602
1891 historical 161 #17,473
1901 historical 183 #15,996
1911 historical 208 #14,594
1997 modern 202 #17,514
1998 modern 204 #17,896
1999 modern 207 #17,855
2000 modern 205 #17,940
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 215 #17,487
2003 modern 200 #18,139
2004 modern 205 #17,935
2005 modern 204 #17,893
2006 modern 205 #18,005
2007 modern 199 #18,542
2008 modern 195 #18,958
2009 modern 214 #18,220
2010 modern 226 #17,942
2011 modern 226 #17,792
2012 modern 224 #17,786
2013 modern 231 #17,703
2014 modern 230 #17,872
2015 modern 220 #18,346
2016 modern 220 #18,376

Geography

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Where Grylls' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, Egloskerry, Gainsborough, Paddocks, Stranton and Neston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Devon, Hartlepool and Cornwall. 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 Egloskerry Cornwall
3 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire
4 Stranton Durham
5 Neston Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 004 West Devon
2 Hartlepool 014 Hartlepool
3 West Devon 005 West Devon
4 Hartlepool 001 Hartlepool
5 Cornwall 047 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grylls

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grylls

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Grylls surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Grylls household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Grylls 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

Grylls 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

Grylls falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Grylls

The surname GRYLLS originates from England, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "grillan," which means "to shudder" or "to tremble." This suggests that the name may have been used to describe someone with a trembling or shaking manner.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Grill" or "Grille," indicating its presence in Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th century, the name began to appear with various spellings, such as "Grille," "Grylle," and "Grylls." These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling practices of the time.

In the 16th century, records show the GRYLLS surname associated with the village of Grilston, located in the county of Wiltshire. This place name may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals who bore the GRYLLS surname include John Grylls (1609-1674), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury in 1654. Another prominent figure was William Grylls (1786-1864), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy.

In the 19th century, Samuel Grylls (1818-1899) gained recognition as a prominent Cornish mineralogist and geologist. His contributions to the study of Cornwall's mineral deposits were invaluable.

The GRYLLS surname also gained notable recognition through the explorer and adventurer Bear Grylls (born 1974). Known for his television shows and books on survival techniques, he has become a household name and brought attention to the family name.

Throughout history, the GRYLLS surname has been associated with various occupations, including lawyers, military personnel, scientists, and explorers. While its origin may have been humble, it has endured and gained recognition across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grylls families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grylls 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. Cornwall leads with 44 Grylls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.74x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 44 29.74x
Middlesex 18 1.38x
Devon 13 4.78x
Carmarthenshire 12 21.78x
Cheshire 10 3.47x
Hampshire 10 3.73x
Lincolnshire 9 4.31x
Surrey 7 1.10x
Gloucestershire 4 1.56x
Lancashire 2 0.13x
Yorkshire 2 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.27x
Durham 1 0.26x
Kent 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Egloskerry in Cornwall leads with 11 Grylls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5500.00x.

Place Total Index
Egloskerry 11 5500.00x
Great Neston 10 1052.63x
Portsea 10 19.05x
Gainsborough 9 182.56x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 42.94x
Llanelly 7 56.41x
Budock 6 540.54x
Islington London 6 4.74x
Calstock 5 172.41x
Pembrey 5 197.63x
Redruth 5 119.33x
Barnes 4 148.70x
Hackney London 4 5.46x
Kenwyn 4 103.36x
Paddington London 4 8.32x
St Neot 4 689.66x
Croydon 3 8.49x
East Budleigh 3 234.38x
Madron Penzance 3 55.76x
Bethnal Green London 2 3.52x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 2 208.33x
Wigan 2 9.23x
Batley 1 8.12x
Cardinham 1 714.29x
Charlton 1 33.78x
Cirencester 1 28.82x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.24x
Eton 1 55.87x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 16.05x
Harrow On The Hill 1 38.31x
Helston 1 64.94x
Middlesbrough 1 5.93x
Morwenstow 1 277.78x
North Hill 1 212.77x
St Germans 1 97.09x
St Just In Penwith 1 34.84x
Stockton On Tees 1 5.34x
Westbury On Trym 1 11.52x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
John 5
Thomas 5
Charles 4
Alfred 3
Henry 3
Alexander 2
Felix 2
George 2
James 2
Reginald 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Chas.Reginald 1
Chass.L. 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gerveys 1
Glanvelle 1
Glynn 1
H.N. 1
H.W. 1
Hargreave 1
Horace 1
Humphrey 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Preston 1
S. 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Thos.Reginald 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Grylls surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grylls surname in 1881?

In 1881, 134 people were recorded with the Grylls surname. That placed it at #16,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grylls surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 220 in 2016. That gives Grylls a modern rank of #18,376.

What does the Grylls surname mean?

A habitational surname indicating someone from a particular area or place name.

What does the Grylls map show?

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