Surname Grendell - Meaning and Origin

Grendell: What does the surname Grendell mean?

The last name Grendell is derived from the Old English words "grene" and "dell". This could have been used to either describe a valley with green foliage or an area near a glen of trees. The name could also be a combination of the two words and mean "valley of green". It could have also been used to describe someone living in a village surrounded by trees with lush foliage.

The last name Grendell could also have originated from a nickname given to someone with a personality trait unique to the name. For example, one could have been referred to as Grendell if they had a tendency to be very greedy or were overly protective of their possessions.

Additionally, the last name Grendell could have come from Anglo-Saxon immigrants travelling to England from Germany in the fifth century. From this region, several English names emerged – many of which were shortened versions of German surnames. The last name Grendel may have been derived from the German surname ‘Grundelt’ which when translated, means ‘grown in a trench’.

No matter which origin one ascribes to the last name Grendell, it continues to be a popular surname with a proud heritage that extends centuries.

Grendell: Where does the name Grendell come from?

The last name Grendell is primarily found in the United States today, with a more concentrated presence in Minnesota, where it is considered one of the state's most common surnames. It is believed to have originated in Germany more than 400 years ago and came to the US from there.

In 2020, Grendell was the 1,414th most common last name overall in the United States, according to Ancestry.com, with approximately 7,700 individuals having that surname. It was most popular in Minnesota, where it was the 188th most common last name, and was also fairly common in Washington, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Oregon.

The Grendell family history states that the last name was first used by an ancestor who lived in Lower Franconia in Germany around the early 15th century, and it is believed to have referred to a person from a village containing a much-used mill.

In more recent history, the Grendell surname gained positive attention due to its ties to the prominent Grendell family, a well-known Minnesota family. This family includes, among others, former state legislators Thomas A. Grendell and his son, Thomas W. Grendell.

Today, the last name Grendell appears to remain primarily limited to the United States, particularly Minnesota, though it can still be found in some parts of Germany.

Variations of the surname Grendell

The surname Grendell is of Germanic / Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English pre-7th-Century "grendel", itself from an Old High German word meaning "grinder". Variants of Grendell include Grandle, Grindle, Grindall, Grindel, Grundell, Grundle, Grendall, Grendele, Grendel, Grendell, Grendle, Grendlea, Grendlee, Grenell, Grenelle, Grendall, Grendel, Grendell, Grendle, Grennell, Grennelle, Grennall, Grennelle and Grendelle, to name a few.

There are various spellings of Grendell, e.g. Grendelle, Grandle, Grennelle, Grendlea, Grindelle, Grendellle, Griindel, Grendall, Grindle, Grenel and Grenell. Other forms include Grendellson, Grendelser, Grendeller, Grendelius, Grendelman, Grendelberg and Grendelmeier.

Grendell is often shortened to such common surname variations as Grendel, Grendle, Grindel, Grandle and Grenell. Other less-used variants include Grendillon, Grendener, Grendean, Grendorff, Grendon, Grendson, Grayson and Gryson. Similarly, the surname has been contracted, modernized or anglicized to various other spellings such as Grender, Grandell, Grennell and Grindell.

In continental Europe, the Grendell surname found in Germany is often rendered as Grander, Granderle, Grandler, Granderl, Granderlin, Grandlerle, Grandlle, Grandl, Grendlin, Grendler and Granderforf. In Spain and Portugal, the name is found as Grander and Grandera, while in Scandinavia it is found as Grandaahl, Granderud, Grandlund and Grandlundt. In France, the name is often found as carendel, crandelle, grondelle and grondel.

Famous people with the name Grendell

• Ruth Grendell: British actress and scriptwriter who was, among other roles, an occasional cast member on long-running British TV series Minder.
• Julian Grendell: American actor, director and producer whose credits include appearing in Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven, as well as co-producing and appearing in the hit internet series The Guild.
• John Grendell: American actor and theater producer who has appeared in many Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway productions for over 30 years.
• Arthur Grendell: English dancer, choreographer and musical director who choreographed for West End productions including We Will Rock You and Grease.
• David Grendell: American politician and attorney who has served as a Republican state senator in Ohio since 2011.
• Alan Grendell: British businessman who was named a top-100 entrepreneur in the city of London in 2015, and is the founder and CEO of the Global Automotive Alliance.
• Sarah Grendell: American author of two poetry collections, including The Weight of Woman.
• Michael Grendell: British sculptor, best known for his outdoor public sculptures.
• Eric Grendell: American artist and illustrator whose work has been featured in a number of books and magazines.
• Emily Grendell: American musician and vocalist, best known for her work with the band Handsome Furs.

Other surnames

Grendel