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Grim Family History

Grim Surname Meaning

Dutch and German variant of Grimm. English: from the Middle English personal name Grim (Old Norse Grímr originally an epithet of the god Óthinn with the meaning ‘masked person’ or ‘shape-changer’). The name may have been bestowed on male children in an attempt to secure the protection of the god.

English: alternatively a nickname from Middle English grim ‘fierce grim’ (compare Grimm). Scottish: variant of Graham.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Grim family from?

You can see how Grim families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Grim family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Grim families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 28 Grim families living in London. This was about 47% of all the recorded Grim's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Grim families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Grim 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 Grim ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Arsenal General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Grim. 100% of Grim men worked as an Arsenal General Labourer and 72% of Grim women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Grim | 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

  • Arsenal General Labourer
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Cook General
    15%
  • Home Duties
    15%

What Grim family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Grim

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Grim. 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 Grim immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Grim. For the veterans among your Grim ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Grim military records

You've only scratched the surface of Grim family history

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What is the average Grim lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Grim life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Grim in 1940 was 58, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Grim

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Grim 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 Grim family tree

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