Grassley
A surname derived from a Norman French occupational reference to a grass-seller or vendor.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Grassley. That puts it at #91,625 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Grassley 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#91,625
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
201
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 201 bearers of the surname Grassley in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 91625th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Grassley, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Grassley
The surname Grassley is believed to have its origins in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German words "gras" and "ley," meaning "grass" and "meadow" or "clearing," respectively. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked on a grassy meadow or clearing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Grassley can be found in the town records of Eberbach, in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany, from the year 1537. Here, a man named Hans Grassley is mentioned as a landowner and farmer.
As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling began to emerge, such as Grasly, Graslie, and Grassli. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the individual scribes who recorded the names.
In the 17th century, a family by the name of Grassley settled in the region of Alsace, which at the time was part of the Holy Roman Empire. This branch of the family produced several notable figures, including Johann Grassley (1624-1692), a respected scholar and theologian.
The name also made its way to the British Isles, where it was anglicized to Grassley or Grassley. One of the earliest recorded instances of this anglicized spelling can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, from the year 1683, where a child named William Grassley was baptized.
In the 18th century, a man named Thomas Grassley (1712-1782) gained recognition as a successful merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol, England. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of the country, contributing to the spread of the name.
Another notable figure bearing the surname Grassley was Sir Robert Grassley (1834-1912), a British military officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He was knighted for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
As the Grassley name continued to disperse across Europe and beyond, it found its way to the United States, where it has been carried by several prominent individuals, including Charles Grassley (born 1933), a long-serving United States Senator from Iowa.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Grassley
Among Census respondents with the surname Grassley, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Grassley 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 Grassley surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.5%
- Hispanic or Latino3.0%
- Two or more races3.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Grassley 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 | #91,625 | #91,625 | 0.0% |
| Count | 201 | 201 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Grassley bearers went from 201 to 201 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #91,625 to #91,625.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Grassley
FAQ
Grassley surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Grassley?
The surname Grassley holds position #91,625 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Grassley surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Grassley, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%). 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.