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

Grills, 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 Grills surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grills in America

Grills is the 27514th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grills surname appeared 876 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Grills.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grills 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 Grills

The surname Grills has its origins in the Middle Ages, derived from the Old English word "grill," which meant "to burn" or "to broil." This name likely originated as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a griller or cook, often employed in the kitchens of wealthy households or in taverns.

The earliest known records of the surname Grills can be traced back to the 13th century in England. One of the earliest documented instances is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1275, where a William Grille is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the medieval period, the Grills surname was predominantly found in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire in the southwest of England. It's likely that the name arose independently in different areas, as occupational surnames were often adopted by unrelated individuals pursuing similar professions.

In the 14th century, the Grills surname appeared in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which listed a John Grille. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1334 also mentioned a Thomas Grille.

One notable individual bearing the Grills surname was Robert Grills, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the 15th century. Born in Somerset around 1420, he acquired substantial properties in the area and was a prominent figure in local affairs.

Another individual of note was William Grills, born in Gloucestershire in 1582. He was a skilled blacksmith and was renowned for his craftsmanship in creating intricate ironwork for local churches and manor houses.

In the 17th century, the Grills surname appeared in various parish records across England. For instance, the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Somerset recorded the birth of John Grills in 1612.

Moving into the 18th century, the Grills family had established themselves in various parts of England. One notable figure was Thomas Grills, born in 1732 in Wiltshire, who served as a captain in the British Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

As the surname spread beyond its origins in the southwest of England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the colonies and other parts of the world through migration and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grills

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

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

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

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