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

Grubbs, 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 Grubbs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grubbs in America

Grubbs is the 2316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grubbs surname appeared 15,773 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Grubbs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grubbs 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 Grubbs

The surname Grubbs is an English occupational name that originated in the 14th century. It is derived from the Middle English word "grubben," meaning "to dig or delve," suggesting that the original bearers of this name were likely involved in agricultural or horticultural work, such as digging or cultivating the land.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Grubbs dates back to 1327 in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where it was spelled "Grubb." This early spelling variation highlights the flexibility of surnames during that time period, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Pipe Rolls of Somerset in 1473, where it was listed as "Grubbes." This suggests that the surname had spread to different regions of England by that time.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Grubbs was John Grubbs (1690-1769), an English Quaker who emigrated to America in the early 18th century. He settled in Pennsylvania and became a prominent landowner and member of the provincial assembly.

Another significant individual was Sarah Grubbs (1753-1847), a Quaker minister and abolitionist from Pennsylvania. She was known for her passionate advocacy against slavery and her efforts in supporting the Underground Railroad.

In the 19th century, the surname Grubbs was also found in parts of Ireland, likely due to English migration and settlement. One example is William Grubbs (1815-1891), an Irish architect who designed several notable buildings in Belfast.

Moving forward to the 20th century, Arthur Grubbs (1900-1988) was an American chemist who made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1963 for his work on catalytic olefin metathesis reactions.

Another notable figure was Stephanie Grubbs (1926-2018), an American artist known for her abstract expressionist paintings and her involvement in the New York art scene during the 1950s and 1960s.

While the surname Grubbs has its origins in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Ireland, and beyond, carried by individuals and families who have contributed to diverse fields and endeavors throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grubbs

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Grubbs, 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!