Explore the Family Name Grist
The meaning of Grist
English (southern): apparently from the Middle English abstract noun grist ‘grinding’, Old English grist, a derivative of grindan (see Grinder), so possibly a metonymic occupational name for a miller. The word was not used in the concrete sense of grain to be ground until the 15th century.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Grist in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Grist has seen a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. The rank of the name dropped from 20497 in 2000 to 21382 in 2010, marking a decrease of 4.32%. However, the count of individuals with this surname grew minimally, increasing by 1.75% to reach 1224 people in 2010 from 1203 in 2000. Despite this increase, the proportion of the US population bearing the surname per 100,000 people decreased by 8.89%, standing at 0.41 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,497 | #21,382 | -4.32% |
| Count | 1,203 | 1,224 | 1.75% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.45 | 0.41 | -8.89% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Grist
As for the ethnicity breakdown based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, most individuals with the surname Grist identified as White, though the percentage decreased slightly from 94.10% in 2000 to 92.48% in 2010. There was a small representation of Black ethnicity, which saw a marginal rise of 0.59% over the decade, reaching 3.43% in 2010. People identifying as Hispanic with this surname experienced the largest growth, more than doubling from 1.16% in 2000 to 2.45% in 2010. Individuals of two or more ethnic identities also increased by 27.71%, from 0.83% to 1.06%. No data was recorded for individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in both censuses.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.1% | 92.48% | -1.72% |
| Black | 3.41% | 3.43% | 0.59% |
| Hispanic | 1.16% | 2.45% | 111.21% |
| Two or More Races | 0.83% | 1.06% | 27.71% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |