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Grist Family History

Grist Name Meaning

English (southern): apparently from the Middle English abstract noun grist ‘grinding’ Old English grist a derivative of grindan (see Grinder ) so possibly a metonymic occupational name for a miller. The word was not used in the concrete sense of grain to be ground until the 15th century.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Priest, Crist, Geist, Grill, Grass, Grise, Guest, Great, Rise, Guist

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Grist family from?

You can see how Grist families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Grist family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Grist families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 298 Grist families living in London. This was about 20% of all the recorded Grist's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Grist families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Grist surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Grist ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Grist. 11% of Grist men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Grist women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Grist were Retired and Private Means. .

View Census Data for Grist | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Gardener
    5%
  • Retired
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Grist family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 42,000 census records available for the last name Grist. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Grist census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Grist

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Grist. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Grist immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Grist. For the veterans among your Grist ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Grist military records

You've only scratched the surface of Grist family history

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What is the average Grist lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Grist life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Grist in 1943 was 32, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Grist

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