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

Grenier, 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 Grenier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grenier in America

Grenier is the 5345th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grenier surname appeared 6,509 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Grenier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grenier 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 Grenier

The surname Grenier originated in France during the Middle Ages. It derived from the Old French word "grenier," meaning "granary" or "attic." The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a granary or attic.

Records from the 13th century show the name was prevalent in the northern regions of France, particularly in Normandy and Picardy. Variations in spelling included Greniez, Grenyer, and Greniere. The name may have also been influenced by place names like Grenier-Montgon, a commune in the Nièvre department.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Grenier appears in the 1292 census records of Paris, which lists a Jacques Grenier as a resident. In the 14th century, the name can be found in the tax rolls of the city of Rouen, where a Jean Grenier is recorded as a merchant.

Notable figures throughout history with the surname Grenier include:

1. Jean-Baptiste Grenier (1753-1841), a French military commander who served under Napoleon Bonaparte.
2. Fernand Grenier (1901-1992), a French composer and conductor known for his film scores.
3. Édouard Grenier (1819-1901), a French writer and historian who specialized in the study of ancient Gallo-Roman culture.
4. Pierre Grenier (1575-1649), a French Jesuit priest and mathematician who contributed to the development of calculus.
5. Alexis Grenier (1775-1846), a French politician and lawyer who served as a deputy in the National Convention during the French Revolution.

The surname Grenier has a rich history rooted in the northern regions of France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including military leaders, composers, writers, and mathematicians.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grenier

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

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 Grenier 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 Grenier 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 Grenier was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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