2010
#138,304
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Greenhall
An English locational surname referring to someone who lived in a green-colored or verdant hall.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 130 Americans carry the last name Greenhall. That puts it at #147,221 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,636,572 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Greenhall 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Greenhall with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
130
1 in 2,636,572
Census rank
#147,221
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
113
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 113 bearers of the surname Greenhall in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147221st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Greenhall, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.8%. The next largest groups are Black (5.3%) and Hispanic (4.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Greenhall
The surname Greenhall is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "grene," meaning green, and "heal," meaning a hall or a dwelling, suggesting that the name refers to a person residing in a green or verdant hall.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Greenhall can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, where it appears as "de Grenehall." This early spelling variation highlights the connection to a specific location or estate.
During the medieval period, the name was often associated with landed gentry or nobility who owned estates or manors bearing the name "Greenhall." For example, the Greenhall family of Hertfordshire is mentioned in various historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries, with Sir William Greenhall (born c. 1380) being a notable figure who served as a knight in the service of King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War.
Another early mention of the name can be found in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Yorkshire from 1672, where a Thomas Greenhall is listed as a taxpayer in the village of Ripley. This record suggests the presence of the Greenhall family in the northern counties of England during the 17th century.
In the 18th century, the name Greenhall gained prominence in the literary world with the poet and playwright Thomas Greenhall (1694-1773), who was born in Lancashire and is best known for his satirical works and plays performed in London theaters.
As the name spread beyond its original geographic roots, it diversified into various spellings, such as Greenhall, Greenhal, and Greenhaugh. One notable individual with this variation was Sir Richard Greenhaugh (1762-1832), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was honored with a knighthood for his distinguished service.
Throughout history, the Greenhall surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, clergymen, and military personnel. For instance, Reverend John Greenhall (1807-1892) was a prominent Anglican clergyman who served as the Dean of Durham Cathedral in the late 19th century.
While the surname Greenhall may not be among the most common in modern times, its historical significance and association with various notable figures serve as a testament to its enduring legacy and the rich tapestry of English heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Greenhall
Among Census respondents with the surname Greenhall, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.8%. The next largest groups are Black (5.3%) and Hispanic (4.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Greenhall 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 Greenhall surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.8% · 97
- Black or African American5.3% · 6
- Hispanic or Latino4.4% · 5
- Two or more races3.5% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Greenhall
Greenhall appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#147,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
-8 bearers (-6.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 8,917 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #138,304 | 121 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #147,221 | 113 | 0.04 | -8 bearers (-6.6%) | Down 8,917 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 Greenhall 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 | #138,304 | #147,221 | -6.4% |
| Count | 121 | 113 | -6.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -5.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Greenhall bearers went from 121 to 113 (-6.6% change). The surname moved down 8,917 positions in the national ranking, going from #138,304 to #147,221.
FAQ
Greenhall surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Greenhall?
Name Census estimates that about 130 living Americans carry the surname Greenhall. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,636,572 residents.
How common is Greenhall?
Greenhall ranks #147,221 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 113 people with the surname Greenhall. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (130), 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 Greenhall.
Has Greenhall become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Greenhall went from 121 recorded bearers to 113. That is a decrease of 8 (-6.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #138,304 to #147,221.
What does the Census say about the background of Greenhall?
Among Census respondents with the surname Greenhall, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.8%. The next largest groups are Black (5.3%) and Hispanic (4.4%). 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 Greenhall in the 2020 Census, accounting for 85.8% (97 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Greenhall appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (85.8%), Black (5.3%), Hispanic (4.4%). 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 Greenhall (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 Greenhall mean?
An English locational surname referring to someone who lived in a green-colored or verdant hall. 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 Greenhall (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 Greenhall?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.