Glanville
A locational surname originating from a residence near a ravine or glen.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 960 Americans carry the last name Glanville. That puts it at #28,883 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.28 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 357,036 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Glanville surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
960
1 in 357,036
Census rank
#28,883
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
823
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 823 bearers of the surname Glanville in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.28 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 28883rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Glanville, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.9%. The next largest groups are Black (15.1%) and Two or More Races (3.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Glanville
The surname Glanville is of Anglo-Norman origin, derived from the Old French place name Glanville, located in Normandy, France. It is believed that the name was first introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
The name Glanville is composed of two elements: "glan" meaning "valley" or "glen," and "ville" meaning "town" or "village." It likely referred to someone who hailed from the town of Glanville in Normandy. Variations of the spelling included Glanvile, Glanvill, and Glanvyll.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented the landholdings in England after the Norman Conquest. The name appears as "Glanvile" in reference to individuals holding lands in various counties.
A notable bearer of the surname was Ranulf de Glanville (c. 1120-1190), an English jurist and statesman who served as Chief Justiciar of England under King Henry II. He is credited with making significant contributions to the development of English common law.
Another prominent figure was Gilbert de Glanville (d. 1214), who was the Bishop of Rochester from 1185 until his death. He played a crucial role in the negotiations leading to the issuance of the Magna Carta in 1215.
In the 13th century, a branch of the Glanville family settled in the county of Suffolk, where they held lands and became influential landowners. Sir John Glanville (c. 1268-1334) was a notable member of this branch and served as a knight and courtier during the reigns of Edward I and Edward II.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Glanville name was also found in the counties of Devon and Cornwall in southwestern England. One notable bearer was John Glanville (1542-1600), a lawyer and antiquarian from Devon who authored several works on English law and history.
Another notable figure was Joseph Glanville (1636-1680), an English writer and philosopher who was a prominent advocate of the scientific revolution and a supporter of the Royal Society. He is best known for his work "Scepsis Scientifica," which argued for the use of empirical methods in scientific inquiry.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Glanville
Among Census respondents with the surname Glanville, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.9%. The next largest groups are Black (15.1%) and Two or More Races (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Glanville bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Glanville surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White77.9%
- Black or African American15.1%
- Two or more races3.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Glanville surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #28,883 | #28,883 | 0.0% |
| Count | 823 | 823 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.28 | 0.28 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Glanville bearers went from 823 to 823 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #28,883 to #28,883.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Glanville
FAQ
Glanville surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Glanville?
The surname Glanville holds position #28,883 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 960 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.28 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Glanville surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Glanville, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.9%. The next largest groups are Black (15.1%) and Two or More Races (3.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.