Grubb
A surname with several likely roots, most often explained as a nickname for a rough, stout, or grub-like person, though some early forms point to other local or linguistic origins.
The #2,456 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 21,042 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Grubb is an old surname with several possible explanations. In English it is often linked to a nickname based on Middle English grubbe or grub, suggesting a person seen as rough, squat, or otherwise “grubby,” though exact senses vary by region and period. Some historical forms such as Grubbe and Grube also fit continental Germanic naming patterns, so the surname may reflect more than one source in different families.
History
Historical records show the name in England by the late 14th century, including Yorkshire spellings such as Grubbe. Later sources also note softened or variant forms like Grube, which points to the surname’s spread and occasional adaptation across English and Germanic contexts. Because the name is relatively short and common in form, unrelated families may have ended up with the same spelling independently.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
19th-century name scholars sometimes grouped Grubb with other surnames that look like animal or creature nicknames, which shows how vivid and earthy many old surnames can be.
From the historical record
“Alan Gmbbe, co. Camo., ibid. p. 107. Johannra Grubb', 1379: P. T. Yorks. pb 106. Johann-es Grubbe, 1379 : ibid. p. 5. Also again on pp. 9, 10.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)