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Grimshaw Family History

Grimshaw Name 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


Similar surnames: Grimstad, Renshaw, Grimley, Henshaw, Crawshaw, Redshaw, Grimsrud

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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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 1840 there were 9 Grimshaw families living in New York. This was about 41% of all the recorded Grimshaw's in USA. New York had the highest population of Grimshaw families in 1840.
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.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Grimshaw ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Grimshaw. 13% of Grimshaw men worked as a Laborer and 18% of Grimshaw women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Grimshaw were Clerk and Maid. .

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 1940

  • Laborer
    13%
  • Farmer
    12%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Clerk
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    18%
  • Housewife
    14%
  • New Worker
    8%
  • Maid
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

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 US 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 USA, 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

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