Grammer
An occupational surname for a clerk, scribe, or notary responsible for writing and record-keeping.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,079 Americans carry the last name Grammer. That puts it at #9,274 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.19 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 84,029 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Grammer 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
4.1K
1 in 84,029
Census rank
#9,274
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,510 bearers of the surname Grammer in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.19 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9274th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Grammer, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.2%. The next largest groups are Black (3.6%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Grammer
The surname Grammer originated in Germany and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Old German word "gram," which means "angry" or "irritable." The name may have been used as a nickname for someone with a quick temper or an irascible personality.
In its earliest form, the name was spelled "Grammer" or "Gramer." It is also related to the German word "Gramm," meaning "sorrow" or "grief." This suggests that the name could have been given to someone who was prone to melancholy or sadness.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a certain Johann Grammer was mentioned in a document dating back to 1387. Another early reference is from the city of Nuremberg, where a Hans Grammer was listed in a tax record from 1429.
In the 16th century, the name appears in various records across Germany, including the town of Augsburg, where a family by the name of Grammer resided. One notable figure from this period was Martin Grammer, a Lutheran theologian and reformer who was born in Nuremberg in 1508 and died in 1585.
As the name spread across Europe, it underwent some spelling variations, such as "Gramer," "Gramere," and "Graymer." In England, the name is believed to have been introduced by German immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England is that of Johann Grammer, a German-born merchant who settled in London in the late 17th century. Another notable figure was William Grammer, a British soldier and explorer who was born in 1784 and served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.
Other historically significant individuals with the surname Grammer include Johann Grammer (1760-1829), a German composer and organist, and Friedrich Grammer (1801-1868), a German painter and lithographer. In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name is that of Jacob Grammer, a German immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania in the mid-18th century.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Grammer
Among Census respondents with the surname Grammer, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.2%. The next largest groups are Black (3.6%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Grammer 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 Grammer surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.2%
- Black or African American3.6%
- Two or more races2.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Grammer 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,711 | #9,274 | -6.5% |
| Count | 3,472 | 3,510 | 1.1% |
| Per 100K | 1.29 | 1.19 | -7.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Grammer bearers went from 3,472 to 3,510 (+1.1% change). The surname moved down 563 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,711 to #9,274.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Grammer
FAQ
Grammer surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Grammer?
The surname Grammer holds position #9,274 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,079 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.19 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Grammer surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Grammer, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.2%. The next largest groups are Black (3.6%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). 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.