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Grigsby Family History

Grigsby Name Meaning

English (Kent): habitational name from a lost or unidentified place called Gregby apparently in Lincolnshire. Although it is not certain that the surname in Kent is connected with the early bearers in Lincolnshire and Norfolk it seems plausible. A habitational name with the Scandinavian generic -by (Old Danish ‘settlement village’) while typical of the Danelaw is an impossible coinage in southeastern England. English: perhaps a variant of Grebby from a place so called in Scremby (Lincolnshire).

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


Similar surnames: Grisby, Rigsby, Bigsby, Brisby, Frisby, Lisby, Silsby, Grimsley

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Where is the Grigsby family from?

You can see how Grigsby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Grigsby family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Grigsby families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 82 Grigsby families living in Kent. This was about 41% of all the recorded Grigsby's in United Kingdom. Kent had the highest population of Grigsby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Grigsby surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Grigsby 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 Grigsby. 42% of Grigsby men worked as a General Labourer and 85% of Grigsby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Grigsby were Car Park Attendant and Household Duties (unpaid). .

View Census Data for Grigsby | 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
    42%
  • Bricklayer
    25%
  • Gardener
    17%
  • Car Park Attendant
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    85%
  • Domestic Duties
    5%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Grigsby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 45,000 census records available for the last name Grigsby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Grigsby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Grigsby

Passenger Lists

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

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Draft Cards

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

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What is the average Grigsby lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Grigsby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Grigsby in 1944 was 24, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Grigsby

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