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

Gruz, 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 Gruz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gruz in America

Gruz is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gruz surname appeared 143 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 Gruz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gruz 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 Gruz

The surname Gruz has its origins in the Balkan region, particularly in Croatia and Serbia. It is believed to have derived from the Slavic word "gruda," which means "clod" or "lump," referring to a person who lived or worked on land with heavy, clumpy soil.

In medieval times, the name Gruz was found in various forms, such as Gruzich, Gruzovic, and Gruzevic, in records from the Dalmatian region of Croatia and the surrounding areas. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 14th century, when a certain Petar Gruz was mentioned in a land deed from the town of Dubrovnik.

The name Gruz also appeared in several historical documents from the 16th and 17th centuries in Serbia, particularly in the region of Vojvodina. These records often referred to landowners and farmers with the surname Gruz, indicating its connection to agricultural communities.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Gruz include Nikola Gruz (1620-1701), a Croatian philosopher and theologian who served as the Bishop of Makarska. Another prominent figure was Jovan Gruz (1785-1862), a Serbian merchant and philanthropist who established several schools and libraries in his hometown of Novi Sad.

In the 19th century, the surname Gruz was found among several notable artists and intellectuals. Ivan Gruz (1814-1891) was a Croatian painter and portraitist, known for his works depicting scenes from daily life in Dalmatia. Milorad Gruz (1858-1932), a Serbian writer and journalist, contributed significantly to the development of modern Serbian literature.

Another notable bearer of the name was Marija Gruz (1892-1964), a Croatian artist and sculptor who gained recognition for her sculptures depicting themes from Croatian folklore and mythology. Her works can be found in various museums and public spaces across Croatia.

While the surname Gruz may have evolved and spread to other parts of the world over time, its roots remain firmly embedded in the Balkan region, where it has a rich historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gruz

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

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

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

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