2000
#122,534
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 130
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Grehl
A German surname derived from a place name meaning "muddy valley".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 133 Americans carry the last name Grehl. That puts it at #145,028 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,577,100 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Grehl 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.
Bearers in the US
133
1 in 2,577,100
Census rank
#145,028
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
116
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 116 bearers of the surname Grehl in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145028th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Grehl, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.7%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Grehl
The surname GREHL is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old German word "grel," which means "angry" or "stern." This suggests that the name may have originally been a nickname given to someone with a fierce or intimidating demeanor.
The earliest known records of the GREHL surname can be found in the town of Rheinland-Pfalz, located in the western region of Germany. This area was once populated by Germanic tribes, and it is likely that the name emerged from one of these communities.
In the 14th century, there are references to a family named GREHL in the town of Worms, which was a prominent center of trade and commerce during the Middle Ages. It is possible that this family played a role in the local economy, though their specific occupations are not well-documented.
One of the earliest known individuals with the GREHL surname was Hans GREHL, a farmer who lived in the village of Mainz in the late 15th century. Records show that he owned a modest plot of land and was known for his skill in cultivating crops.
In the 16th century, the GREHL name appeared in the city of Cologne, where a man named Johann GREHL was a respected blacksmith. His craftsmanship was highly regarded, and he was responsible for creating intricate metalwork for local churches and wealthy patrons.
During the 17th century, a family of GREHLs settled in the town of Heidelberg, where they established a successful business as millers. One notable member of this family was Friedrich GREHL (1620-1682), who was renowned for his innovative techniques in flour production.
Another prominent figure with the GREHL surname was Katharina GREHL (1745-1818), a celebrated author and poet from the city of Frankfurt. Her works were widely read and admired throughout Germany, and she was recognized for her contributions to the literary culture of the time.
In the 19th century, a man named Wilhelm GREHL (1812-1885) made a name for himself as a pioneering architect in the city of Berlin. He was responsible for designing numerous iconic buildings, including the renowned Reichstag, which still stands today as a symbol of German democracy.
Throughout its long history, the GREHL surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, artisans, intellectuals, and professionals. While its origins may have been humble, the name has endured and continues to be associated with the rich cultural heritage of Germany.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Grehl
Among Census respondents with the surname Grehl, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.7%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Grehl 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 Grehl surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.7% · 111
- Hispanic or Latino1.7% · 2
- Two or more races1.7% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Grehl
Grehl appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#131,379
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 129
-1 bearers (-0.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 8,845 places
2020
#145,028
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
-13 bearers (-10.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 13,649 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #122,534 | 130 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #131,379 | 129 | 0.04 | -1 bearers (-0.8%) | Down 8,845 places |
| 2020 | #145,028 | 116 | 0.04 | -13 bearers (-10.1%) | Down 13,649 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 Grehl 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 | #131,379 | #145,028 | -10.4% |
| Count | 129 | 116 | -10.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -3.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Grehl bearers went from 129 to 116 (-10.1% change). The surname moved down 13,649 positions in the national ranking, going from #131,379 to #145,028.
FAQ
Grehl surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Grehl?
Name Census estimates that about 133 living Americans carry the surname Grehl. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,577,100 residents.
How common is Grehl?
Grehl ranks #145,028 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 116 people with the surname Grehl. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (133), 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 Grehl.
Has Grehl become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Grehl went from 129 recorded bearers to 116. That is a decrease of 13 (-10.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #131,379 to #145,028.
What does the Census say about the background of Grehl?
Among Census respondents with the surname Grehl, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.7%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). 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 Grehl in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.7% (111 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Grehl appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.7%), Hispanic (1.7%), Two or More Races (1.7%). 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 Grehl (2000, 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 Grehl mean?
A German surname derived from a place name meaning "muddy valley". 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 Grehl (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 Grehl?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.