Greenaway
A geographical surname indicating someone who lived by a green roadway or path.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,302 Americans carry the last name Greenaway. That puts it at #22,618 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.38 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 263,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Greenaway 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
1.3K
1 in 263,252
Census rank
#22,618
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,135 bearers of the surname Greenaway in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.38 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 22618th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Greenaway, the largest self-reported group is White at 58.6%. The next largest groups are Black (36.5%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Greenaway
The surname Greenaway is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "grene" meaning green and "weg" meaning way or path, referring to a person who lived near a green path or road.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a John de Grenewey is mentioned. The name was also recorded in various other medieval documents, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a William Greneway was listed.
During the medieval period, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Grenewaye, Greneway, and Greneweye, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling conventions at the time. It is believed that the name was originally a descriptive surname given to individuals who lived near a green path or road.
The Greenaway surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Greenaway Lane in Shropshire and Greenaway Farm in Gloucestershire. These place names may have influenced the development and spread of the surname in those areas.
One notable individual with the Greenaway surname was John Greenaway (1644-1678), an English artist and engraver known for his portraits and landscapes. Another significant figure was Katharine Greenaway (1846-1901), a renowned English writer and illustrator of children's books, famous for her illustrations in works like "Under the Window" and "Marigold Garden."
Other individuals of historical significance with the Greenaway surname include Robert Greenaway (1815-1899), an English architect who designed several prominent buildings in London, and Harry Greenaway (1884-1963), a British politician and member of parliament for Sunderland.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Greenaway was also found in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Shropshire, and Worcestershire, indicating its widespread presence in those regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Greenaway
Among Census respondents with the surname Greenaway, the largest self-reported group is White at 58.6%. The next largest groups are Black (36.5%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Greenaway 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 Greenaway surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White58.6%
- Black or African American36.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Two or more races1.9%
- Unknown or suppressed0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Greenaway 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 | #24,406 | #22,618 | 7.3% |
| Count | 961 | 1,135 | 18.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.36 | 0.38 | 5.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Greenaway bearers went from 961 to 1,135 (+18.1% change). The surname moved up 1,788 positions in the national ranking, going from #24,406 to #22,618.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Greenaway
FAQ
Greenaway surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Greenaway?
The surname Greenaway holds position #22,618 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,302 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.38 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Greenaway surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Greenaway, the largest self-reported group is White at 58.6%. The next largest groups are Black (36.5%) and Hispanic (2.7%). 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.