Griese
A surname of German origin, possibly derived from "Gries" meaning gravel or sandy ground.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,131 Americans carry the last name Griese. That puts it at #25,202 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.33 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 303,054 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Griese 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
1.1K
1 in 303,054
Census rank
#25,202
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
983
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 983 bearers of the surname Griese in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.33 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 25202nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Griese, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Griese
The surname GRIESE has its origins in Germany and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "gries," which means "gravel" or "coarse sand." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a gravelly area or worked in a trade related to gravel or sand.
The earliest recorded instances of the name GRIESE can be found in historical documents from the 14th century in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. One notable example is the mention of a "Hainrich Griese" in the municipal records of the city of Nuremberg in 1387.
Throughout the centuries, the name GRIESE has appeared in various historical records and manuscripts across German-speaking regions. For instance, in the 16th century, a "Johannes Griese" was listed as a landowner in the village of Wittenburg in Thuringia.
One of the earliest known bearers of the GRIESE name was Hans Griese, a blacksmith born in the town of Augsburg in 1521. His son, Peter Griese (1549-1623), became a prominent scholar and theologian, serving as a professor at the University of Wittenberg.
Another notable figure with the GRIESE surname was Johann Griese (1684-1747), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister at the court of the Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels.
In the 19th century, the name GRIESE was associated with several influential academics and writers. These included Karl Griese (1822-1899), a German philologist and professor at the University of Leipzig, and Friedrich Griese (1840-1912), a renowned literary historian and critic.
While the name GRIESE has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, it remains most prevalent in German-speaking regions and among those of German ancestry.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Griese
Among Census respondents with the surname Griese, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Griese 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 Griese surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.6%
- Hispanic or Latino3.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
- Unknown or suppressed0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Griese 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 | #22,505 | #25,202 | -12.0% |
| Count | 1,067 | 983 | -7.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.40 | 0.33 | -17.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Griese bearers went from 1,067 to 983 (-7.9% change). The surname moved down 2,697 positions in the national ranking, going from #22,505 to #25,202.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Griese
FAQ
Griese surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Griese?
The surname Griese holds position #25,202 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,131 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.33 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Griese surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Griese, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%). 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.