Find out how popular the last name Grell is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Grell.

Grell, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Grell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grell in America

Grell is the 15434th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grell surname appeared 1,898 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Grell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grell to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Grell

The surname GRELL is of Germanic origins, believed to have first emerged in the regions that are now parts of modern-day Germany and Austria. The name can be traced back to the 12th century, and it is thought to be derived from the Old High German word "grel," which means "angry" or "fierce."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GRELL can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical documents from the Duchy of Anhalt, in the year 1197. This document mentions a certain "Henricus Grel," suggesting that the name was already in use by that time.

In the 13th century, the name GRELL appears in several other historical records, such as the Urkundenbuch des Klosters Viktring in Austria, which mentions a "Dietricus Grel" in 1265. This indicates that the name had spread beyond its original region and was being used in neighboring areas.

During the Middle Ages, the GRELL family likely lived in rural areas and may have been part of the landed gentry or minor nobility. One notable figure from this period was Johannes Grell, a German priest and theologian who lived from around 1450 to 1517. He was known for his work as a preacher and his support for the Reformation.

In the 16th century, the name GRELL gained prominence with the emergence of Clemens Grell, a German composer and organist who lived from around 1550 to 1617. He was known for his contributions to sacred music and worked in several churches in Saxony.

Another notable figure was Johann Grell, a German cartographer and mathematician who lived from 1577 to 1638. He was known for his work in creating accurate maps and his contributions to the field of surveying and cartography.

In the 17th century, the GRELL name appeared in various records across German-speaking regions, including the baptismal records of the city of Nuremberg, which mention a "Johann Grell" in 1632.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname GRELL was the German painter and etcher Ferdinand Grell, who lived from 1716 to 1793. He was known for his landscapes and etchings, and his works can be found in museums across Europe.

Overall, the surname GRELL has a rich and diverse history, with roots stretching back to the Middle Ages in the German-speaking regions of Europe. While its origins may have been humble, the name has been borne by notable figures in various fields, including theology, music, cartography, and art.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grell

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Grell.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Grell was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Grell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Grell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Grell, please contact us.

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