This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Grantham family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Grantham Family History

Grantham Surname Meaning

English (Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire): habitational name from Grantham in Lincolnshire of uncertain origin.

The final element is Old English hām ‘homestead’; the first may be Old English grand ‘gravel’ or perhaps a personal name Granta which probably originated as a byname meaning ‘snarler’.

See also Graham.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Grantham family from?

You can see how Grantham families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Grantham family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Grantham families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 383 Grantham families living in Yorkshire. This was about 18% of all the recorded Grantham's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Grantham families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Grantham surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Grantham 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 Grantham. 13% of Grantham men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Grantham women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Grantham were Bricklayer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Grantham | 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
    13%
  • Incapacitated
    6%
  • Farm Labourer
    6%
  • Bricklayer
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Grantham family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 71,000 census records available for the last name Grantham. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Grantham census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Grantham

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Grantham. 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 Grantham immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Grantham. For the veterans among your Grantham ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Grantham military records

You've only scratched the surface of Grantham family history

Discover More

What is the average Grantham lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Grantham life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Grantham in 1942 was 32, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Grantham

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Grantham ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Grantham family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial