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

Griss, 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 Griss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Griss in America

Griss is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Griss surname appeared 112 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 Griss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Griss 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 Griss

The surname GRISS is believed to have originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe during the Middle Ages. It likely derived from the Old High German word "gris," which meant "grey" or "grizzled," and was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with grey hair or a grizzled appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GRISS surname can be found in the 14th-century records of the Free Imperial City of Nuremberg. A certain Hans Griss is mentioned in a document dated 1367, suggesting that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

The GRISS surname also appeared in various medieval manuscripts and chronicles from the Holy Roman Empire, indicating its presence across German-speaking territories. For example, a knight named Konrad Griss is referenced in a 15th-century chronicle from the Duchy of Württemberg.

During the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, the GRISS surname spread to other parts of Europe as a result of migration and trade. In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing this name was Kaspar Griss (1530-1597), a German theologian and Protestant reformer from Saxony.

As the GRISS surname expanded across Europe, it often evolved into different spellings and variations based on local dialects and naming traditions. In the Netherlands, for instance, the name took the form "Grijss" or "Grijs," while in Switzerland, it became "Griss" or "Gryz."

Other notable individuals with the GRISS surname include:

1. Johann Baptist Griss (1691-1767), an Austrian baroque painter and fresco artist from Tyrol.
2. Christoph Griss (1725-1799), a German composer and organist from Saxony.
3. Johann Georg Griss (1770-1854), a German architect and urban planner from Bavaria.
4. Theodor Griss (1829-1880), an Austrian jurist and politician who served as Minister of Justice.
5. Elias Griss (1885-1957), a Swiss architect and urban planner known for his work in Zurich.

While the GRISS surname may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it eventually became a hereditary family name passed down through generations, carrying with it a rich history and cultural significance across various regions of Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Griss

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

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

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

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