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

Gritts, 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 Gritts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gritts in America

Gritts is the 102197th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gritts surname appeared 176 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 Gritts.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gritts 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 Gritts

The surname GRITTS originates from England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "grit," which refers to a coarse-grained particle or small stone. This name likely originated as a nickname or occupational name for someone who worked with gravel or sand.

One of the earliest records of the GRITTS surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a certain Warin Gritts is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the West Midlands region of England during that period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Gryttes, Grittes, and Grytts, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common in medieval times. The Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279 mentions a Johannes Gryttes, indicating the name's presence in the eastern counties as well.

By the 15th century, the GRITTS surname had spread to other parts of England. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1524 list a Thomas Gritts, while the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1525 mention a John Gritts.

One notable individual bearing the GRITTS surname was Sir John Gritts (1563-1637), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. He served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted by King James I in 1618.

Another significant figure was William Gritts (1675-1748), a prominent English architect who worked on several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Horse Guards Parade.

In the 18th century, the GRITTS surname was also found in Scotland. George Gritts (1720-1788), a Scottish philosopher and professor at the University of Edinburgh, made valuable contributions to the field of moral philosophy.

Moving into the 19th century, Samuel Gritts (1815-1892) was a renowned English botanist and horticulturist. He was instrumental in introducing several new plant species to Britain and wrote extensively on the subject of gardening.

Lastly, Elizabeth Gritts (1889-1972) was a British writer and playwright who gained recognition for her historical novels set in Tudor England.

While these are just a few examples, the GRITTS surname has a long and rich history, spanning several centuries and various regions of the British Isles. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval era, reflecting the occupations and nicknames that gave rise to many English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gritts

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

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

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

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