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

Grist, 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 Grist surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grist in America

Grist is the 21382nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grist surname appeared 1,224 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 Grist.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grist 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 Grist

The surname GRIST is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "grist" which referred to the grain that was ground at a mill. The name likely originated as an occupational surname, given to those who worked as millers or were involved in the milling trade.

In medieval times, the milling of grain was an essential industry, and millers played a crucial role in providing flour for bread and other staple foods. As a result, the surname GRIST would have been widespread in areas where mills were prevalent, particularly in rural regions of England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GRIST surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a William le Grist. The prefix "le" was a common way of indicating occupations or trades in those days.

The GRIST surname also appears in the Hertfordshire Assize Rolls of 1341, where a Thomas Grist is mentioned. This record suggests that the surname had solidified its spelling by the mid-14th century.

During the late medieval period, the GRIST surname appeared in various forms, reflecting regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions. Some of these variations included Gryst, Griste, and Gryste.

One notable bearer of the GRIST surname was John Grist (c. 1560-1624), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucester in the early 17th century. Another individual of note was Thomas Grist (1627-1687), a Quaker preacher and writer from Gloucestershire.

In the 18th century, Samuel Grist (1683-1754) was a prominent English mathematician and surveyor who authored several treatises on navigation and surveying techniques. His work contributed to the advancement of these fields during the Age of Enlightenment.

The GRIST surname also has historical connections to place names in England. For example, the village of Gristhorpe in North Yorkshire is believed to have derived its name from the Old English "grist" combined with the word "thorpe," meaning a small village or hamlet.

Throughout history, the GRIST surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, tradesmen, and professionals. While the name may have originated from a humble occupation, it has endured for centuries and continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grist

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!