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Grimshaw Family History

Grimshaw Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire): habitational name from either of two places in Lancashire named Grimshaw from the Old Norse personal name Grímr (see Grime) or Old English grīma ‘specter goblin’ + Old English sceaga ‘copse’.

English: alternatively a habitational name from Green Shaw Head in Beamsley (Yorkshire) or another place similarly named with Middle English grene ‘green’ + shaghe ‘copse’ (Old English grēne + sceaga).

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


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Where is the Grimshaw family from?

You can see how Grimshaw families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Grimshaw family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Grimshaw families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 3,646 Grimshaw families living in Lancashire. This was about 69% of all the recorded Grimshaw's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Grimshaw families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Grimshaw surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Grimshaw 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 Grimshaw. 8% of Grimshaw men worked as a General Labourer and 62% of Grimshaw women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Grimshaw were Builders Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Grimshaw | 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
    8%
  • Cotton Weaver
    7%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    62%
  • Cotton Weaver
    6%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Grimshaw family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 82,000 census records available for the last name Grimshaw. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Grimshaw census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Grimshaw

Passenger Lists

There are 11,000 immigration records available for the last name Grimshaw. 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 Grimshaw immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Grimshaw. For the veterans among your Grimshaw ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Grimshaw military records

You've only scratched the surface of Grimshaw family history

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What is the average Grimshaw lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Grimshaw life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Grimshaw in 1950 was 61, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Grimshaw

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Grimshaw 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.

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