Grassle
An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller at the grassy lea."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Grassle. That puts it at #156,044 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Grassle 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
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#156,044
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
104
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 104 bearers of the surname Grassle in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 156044th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Grassle, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.0%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Grassle
The surname Grassle originates from Germany, where it first emerged in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old High German word "gras," meaning grass, and the Middle High German suffix "-el," which denotes a diminutive form. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a grassy area or worked with grass in some capacity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Saxony, where a certain Henricus Grassele is mentioned in a land transaction dating back to 1237. Another early reference can be found in the Württembergisches Urkundenbuch, a collection of charters and deeds from the former state of Württemberg, where a Cunradus Grassel is listed as a witness in a legal document from 1289.
In the 14th century, the name was found in various forms, such as Grassel, Grässel, and Gressele, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. One notable bearer of the name during this time was Hans Grassel, a merchant from the city of Nuremberg, who is recorded as having traded in spices and textiles between 1375 and 1412.
As the surname spread throughout Germany and into neighboring regions, it became associated with certain place names. For instance, the village of Grässel in Bavaria is believed to have derived its name from the Grassle family who once lived there.
Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Grassle in later centuries were Johann Christoph Grassle (1640-1711), a German theologian and author of several religious works, and Friedrich Grassle (1769-1838), a Prussian military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars.
In the 19th century, the Grassle name gained prominence in the field of music with the birth of Johann Gottlieb Grassle (1815-1888), a renowned German composer and conductor who wrote several operas and orchestral works. His younger brother, Karl Grassle (1823-1892), was also a respected musician and served as the director of the Leipzig Conservatory.
Another significant figure bearing the Grassle surname was Hildegard Grassle (1878-1961), a German feminist and activist who campaigned for women's suffrage and equal rights in the early 20th century.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Grassle
Among Census respondents with the surname Grassle, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.0%.
The bar chart below shows how Grassle 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 Grassle surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White99.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Grassle 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 | #156,044 | #156,044 | 0.0% |
| Count | 104 | 104 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Grassle bearers went from 104 to 104 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #156,044 to #156,044.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Grassle
FAQ
Grassle surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Grassle?
The surname Grassle holds position #156,044 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Grassle surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Grassle, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.0%. 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.