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

Grote, 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 Grote surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grote in America

Grote is the 7807th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grote surname appeared 4,240 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 Grote.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grote 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 Grote

The surname "Grote" is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old German word "groter" meaning "large" or "great." It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around Hanover and Westphalia, as early as the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the Kingdom of Saxony, dating back to the year 1190. The name appears as "Grote" in reference to a landowner or nobleman in the region.

During the Middle Ages, the name "Grote" was often associated with members of the clergy or religious orders. One notable figure was Geert Grote (1340-1384), a Dutch Roman Catholic deacon and founder of the Brethren of the Common Life, a religious movement that emphasized spiritual renewal and education.

In the 15th century, the name "Grote" appeared in various records and manuscripts from the Hanseatic League, a powerful medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northern Europe. This suggests that the name may have been connected to prominent merchant families in the region.

Another significant figure was Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), a Dutch jurist, philosopher, and theologian who is considered one of the founding fathers of modern international law. His seminal work, "On the Law of War and Peace," published in 1625, laid the groundwork for the principles of just war theory and the rights of nations.

In the realm of literature, the name "Grote" is associated with George Grote (1794-1871), an English classical historian and politician. His influential work, "History of Greece," published in 12 volumes between 1846 and 1856, is regarded as a landmark in the study of ancient Greek history and culture.

The surname "Grote" also has a notable presence in the field of astronomy. George Grote III (1794-1868), the son of the historian George Grote, was an amateur astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the orbits of comets.

While the surname "Grote" has its roots in Germany, it has spread to various parts of the world due to migration and immigration patterns over the centuries. However, it is important to note that this report focuses solely on the historical origins and notable bearers of the surname, rather than providing modern census data or demographic information.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grote

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

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

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

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