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

Grinstead, 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 Grinstead surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grinstead in America

Grinstead is the 12229th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grinstead surname appeared 2,545 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Grinstead.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grinstead 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 Grinstead

The surname Grinstead is of English origin, rooted in the medieval era. It derives from the Old English words "grene" meaning green, and "stede" referring to a place or site, collectively translating to "green place." This name is closely associated with the town of Grinstead in West Sussex, England.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Grinstead appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions a landowner named Godric de Grenestedde, indicating the name's use during the Norman conquest of England.

Throughout the Middle Ages, various spellings of the name emerged, including Grenestede, Grenstede, and Grynstede. These variations reflect the evolution of the English language and regional dialects. The name was often associated with individuals residing in or originating from the town of Grinstead or nearby areas.

One notable figure bearing the Grinstead surname was Sir John de Grinstead, a prominent landowner and knight who lived during the 14th century. Records indicate that he participated in the Hundred Years' War and was awarded lands for his military service.

In the 16th century, a prominent member of the Grinstead family was William Grinstead, a merchant and alderman in the City of London. He was a influential figure in the city's governance and trade affairs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Grinstead, a Puritan clergyman who lived in the 17th century. He was a vocal critic of the Church of England's practices and played a role in the religious turmoil of the English Civil War.

During the 18th century, the name Grinstead was associated with several notable figures in the fields of literature and academia. One such individual was Robert Grinstead, a renowned scholar and author who published works on classical literature and philosophy.

In the 19th century, the Grinstead surname was carried by James Grinstead, a successful industrialist and philanthropist. He contributed significantly to the development of the textile industry in northern England and funded the construction of several schools and public buildings in his hometown.

These examples illustrate the long and diverse history of the Grinstead surname, spanning various regions, social classes, and professional fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grinstead

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

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

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

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