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

Grindal, 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 Grindal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grindal in America

Grindal is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grindal surname appeared 114 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 Grindal.

The history of the last name Grindal

The surname Grindal has its origins in the Nordic countries, particularly in Norway and Sweden. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is derived from an Old Norse word "grind," which referred to a gate, fence, or railing. It is likely that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a gate or worked as a gatekeeper.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Grindal can be found in the Swedish census records from the 16th century. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Grindahl, Grindahl, and Grindal, reflecting the regional variations and the influence of different languages.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name was Edmund Grindal (1519-1583), an English churchman who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1575 until his death. He played a significant role in the Elizabethan Religious Settlement and was known for his moderate stance on religious reforms.

Another prominent individual with the surname Grindal was Håkan Grindal (1631-1684), a Swedish diplomat and statesman. He served as the Governor-General of Swedish Pomerania and was involved in various diplomatic missions during the latter part of the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in various historical documents, including church records and land registries. One example is Jonas Grindal (1720-1798), a Swedish clergyman and author who published several religious works and contributed to the development of the Swedish language.

During the 19th century, the Grindal surname gained wider recognition with the emergence of notable individuals such as Charles John Grindal (1831-1914), a Norwegian-American politician and businessman who served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Another notable figure was Nils Grindal (1842-1912), a Norwegian-American author and educator who played a significant role in the preservation of Norwegian culture and language in the United States.

Throughout history, the Grindal surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, including clergymen, diplomats, politicians, and educators. While the name originated in the Nordic countries, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grindal

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

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 Grindal 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.

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

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

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