2010
#140,157
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Grinslade
A locational surname originating from a location with a green slope or hill.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 124 Americans carry the last name Grinslade. That puts it at #150,935 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,764,148 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Grinslade surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
124
1 in 2,764,148
Census rank
#150,935
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 108 bearers of the surname Grinslade in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150935th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Grinslade, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Grinslade
The surname GRINSLADE is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the county of Somerset. It is believed to be derived from a place name, likely referring to a green clearing or glade within a wooded area. The first part of the name, "Grin," is thought to come from the Old English word "grene," meaning green, while the second part, "slade," stems from the Old English word "slæd," meaning a valley or dell.
One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1327, where a certain John de Greneslad is mentioned. This entry provides valuable insight into an early spelling variation of the name, reflecting its possible origin as a place name.
During the 14th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1379, where a William Grenslade is listed. This document further solidifies the connection between the surname and the Somerset region.
In the 16th century, the surname GRINSLADE gained more prominence with the birth of William Grinslade (c. 1520-1590), a notable merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol. His legacy is documented in local records, and his name is associated with several properties within the city.
Another notable figure bearing this surname was John Grinslade (1661-1743), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the King's Bench in the early 18th century. His legal career and contributions to the English judicial system are well-documented in historical records.
The 18th century also saw the birth of Thomas Grinslade (1720-1798), a respected clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Pitminster in Somerset. His published works, including sermons and theological treatises, provide valuable insights into the cultural and religious landscape of the time.
In the 19th century, the surname GRINSLADE continued to be associated with notable individuals, such as Charles Grinslade (1829-1901), a renowned architect who designed several significant buildings in London, including the prestigious Savoy Hotel.
While these historical figures offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of the GRINSLADE surname, it is important to note that many other individuals bearing this name have undoubtedly contributed to the fabric of society throughout the centuries, though their stories may have been lost to time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Grinslade
Among Census respondents with the surname Grinslade, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Grinslade bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Grinslade surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.0% · 94
- Hispanic or Latino7.4% · 8
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.7% · 4
- Two or more races1.9% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Grinslade
Grinslade appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#150,935
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
-11 bearers (-9.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 10,778 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #140,157 | 119 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #150,935 | 108 | 0.04 | -11 bearers (-9.2%) | Down 10,778 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Grinslade surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #140,157 | #150,935 | -7.7% |
| Count | 119 | 108 | -9.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -9.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Grinslade bearers went from 119 to 108 (-9.2% change). The surname moved down 10,778 positions in the national ranking, going from #140,157 to #150,935.
FAQ
Grinslade surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Grinslade?
Name Census estimates that about 124 living Americans carry the surname Grinslade. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,764,148 residents.
How common is Grinslade?
Grinslade ranks #150,935 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 108 people with the surname Grinslade. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (124), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Grinslade.
Has Grinslade become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Grinslade went from 119 recorded bearers to 108. That is a decrease of 11 (-9.2%). In the national ranking it fell from #140,157 to #150,935.
What does the Census say about the background of Grinslade?
Among Census respondents with the surname Grinslade, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Grinslade in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.0% (94 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Grinslade appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.0%), Hispanic (7.4%), American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Grinslade (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Grinslade mean?
A locational surname originating from a location with a green slope or hill. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Grinslade (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Grinslade?
Want to know how many people are called Grinslade? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.