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

Grinley, 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 Grinley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grinley in America

Grinley is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grinley surname appeared 102 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 Grinley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grinley 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 Grinley

The surname Grinley has its origins in the British Isles, specifically in England and Ireland. It likely emerged during the Middle Ages, between the 11th and 15th centuries. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "grene" and "leah," meaning "green" and "woodland clearing" respectively, suggesting it may have originated as a place name referring to a settlement in a green meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Grenelei" in reference to a landowner or tenant in the county of Gloucestershire. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the Norman period in England.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Greneley in Somerset, England, and a William de Greneley in Nottinghamshire, both of whom were likely landowners or nobles with the name derived from their estates or properties.

During the 16th century, the spelling of the name began to evolve, with variations such as Grinley, Grindley, and Grynley appearing in parish records and census data across various regions of England and Ireland.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Grinley (1538-1612), an English military commander and landowner who served under Queen Elizabeth I during the Anglo-Spanish War. He was knighted for his bravery in battle and later became a member of Parliament.

Another famous individual with this surname was Robert Grinley (1695-1768), an Irish clergyman and philosopher who served as the Bishop of Raphoe in County Donegal, Ireland. He was a prominent figure in the Irish Protestant community and authored several theological works.

In the 18th century, the Grinley family had a strong presence in the county of Shropshire, England, with several members serving as prominent landowners and local officials, such as Thomas Grinley (1712-1789), a magistrate and justice of the peace.

The name Grinley also appeared in Scotland, with records indicating a John Grinley (1756-1832) who was a merchant and shipowner based in Glasgow, playing a significant role in the city's maritime trade during the Industrial Revolution.

In the 19th century, the Grinley surname spread to other parts of the world as a result of emigration from the British Isles, with notable individuals such as William Grinley (1821-1896), a successful businessman and philanthropist who settled in New York City after emigrating from Ireland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grinley

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

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

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

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