2000
#127,948
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 123
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Gradeless
From obsolete term meaning "without grades or degrees."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 136 Americans carry the last name Gradeless. That puts it at #142,788 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,520,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gradeless surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
136
1 in 2,520,252
Census rank
#142,788
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
119
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 119 bearers of the surname Gradeless in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142788th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gradeless, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gradeless
The surname Gradeless has its origins in the English county of Yorkshire, dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "grat," meaning great, and "laes," meaning pasture or meadow, suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who owned or lived near a large pasture or meadowland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gradeless can be found in the Wakefield Court Rolls of 1379, which mention a John de Gratelays. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. In the 15th century, records show the name appearing as Graydles and Graytleys, reflecting the various pronunciations and spellings used in different regions.
During the Tudor period, the Gradeless family is believed to have been prominent landowners in the Yorkshire Dales. A notable figure from this time was William Gradeless (1527-1589), who served as a magistrate and was known for his involvement in local affairs. His son, Thomas Gradeless (1562-1624), was a respected clergyman and author of several theological works.
In the 17th century, the name Gradeless gained prominence in the city of York, where several members of the family held positions of influence. Richard Gradeless (1635-1701) was a successful merchant and alderman, while his cousin, Elizabeth Gradeless (1652-1718), was a renowned philanthropist who established a charitable foundation for the education of underprivileged children.
As the Gradeless family spread across England in the 18th and 19th centuries, they continued to make their mark in various fields. Notable individuals include Sir Henry Gradeless (1745-1822), a celebrated naval officer who played a crucial role in the Battle of Trafalgar, and Jane Gradeless (1798-1879), a pioneering educator who founded one of the first schools for girls in London.
Another significant figure bearing the Gradeless name was John Gradeless (1824-1901), a renowned architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Manchester, including the city's iconic town hall. His contemporary, Mary Gradeless (1829-1912), was a prominent suffragette and a leading figure in the fight for women's rights.
Throughout its history, the surname Gradeless has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, from politics and religion to the arts and sciences. While its origins may lie in the humble pastures of Yorkshire, the name has evolved to represent a rich tapestry of achievement and accomplishment.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gradeless
Among Census respondents with the surname Gradeless, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Gradeless bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Gradeless surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White77.3% · 92
- Hispanic or Latino20.2% · 24
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
- Two or more races0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gradeless
Gradeless appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#148,347
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
-12 bearers (-9.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 20,399 places
2020
#142,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
+8 bearers (+7.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 5,559 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #127,948 | 123 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #148,347 | 111 | 0.04 | -12 bearers (-9.8%) | Down 20,399 places |
| 2020 | #142,788 | 119 | 0.04 | +8 bearers (+7.2%) | Up 5,559 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Gradeless surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #148,347 | #142,788 | 3.7% |
| Count | 111 | 119 | 7.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -0.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gradeless bearers went from 111 to 119 (+7.2% change). The surname moved up 5,559 positions in the national ranking, going from #148,347 to #142,788.
FAQ
Gradeless surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gradeless?
Name Census estimates that about 136 living Americans carry the surname Gradeless. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,520,252 residents.
How common is Gradeless?
Gradeless ranks #142,788 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 119 people with the surname Gradeless. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (136), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Gradeless.
Has Gradeless become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gradeless went from 111 recorded bearers to 119. That is an increase of 8 (+7.2%). In the national ranking it rose from #148,347 to #142,788.
What does the Census say about the background of Gradeless?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gradeless, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Gradeless in the 2020 Census, accounting for 77.3% (92 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gradeless appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (77.3%), Hispanic (20.2%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Gradeless (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Gradeless mean?
From obsolete term meaning "without grades or degrees." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Gradeless (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Gradeless?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.