Show ContentsGroom History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Groom has been recorded in British history since the time when the Anglo-Saxons ruled over the region. The name is assumed to have been given to someone who was a servant or attendant. Groom is a Old English word for a house servant; it was also applied to shepherds. It is the word from which the surname Groom is derived.

Early Origins of the Groom family

The surname Groom was first found in Norfolk where Richard Grom was listed c. 1100. Years later, Ernald le Grom was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Gloucestershire in 1187. Later again, Robert Groum was noticed in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327 as holding lands there at that time. 1

Early History of the Groom family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Groom research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1319, 1327, 1335, 1678, 1695, 1699, 1709 and 1760 are included under the topic Early Groom History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Groom Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Groom has been spelled many different ways, including Groome, Grome, Groom and others.

Early Notables of the Groom family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • John Groome (1678?-1760), an English clergyman and divine, chaplain to Robert Darcy, 3rd Earl of Holderness...
  • He was "the son of John Groome of Norwich...

Groom Ranking

In the United States, the name Groom is the 5,545th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2


United States Groom migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Grooms to arrive in North America:

Groom Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Groom, who arrived in New Jersey in 1675 3
Groom Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anne and Charles Groom, who settled in Maryland in 1739 with their daughter Mary
  • Ann Groom, who landed in Maryland in 1740 3
  • Charles Groom, who arrived in Maryland in 1740 3
Groom Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Daniel, Edward, George, James, John, Patrick, Roger, Terrence, Thomas and William Groom, all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860
  • James Groom, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1870 3
  • Robert Groom, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1870 3
  • Gerd J Groom, who landed in Iowa in 1882 3

Canada Groom migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Groom Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Groom, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • John Groom, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Sarah Groom, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Australia Groom migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Groom Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Groom, British Convict who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • Mr. Edward Groom, English convict who was convicted in Derbyshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 8th July 1840, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
  • Emma Groom, English convict from Staffordshire, who was transported aboard the "Angelina" on April 25, 1844, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 6

New Zealand Groom migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Groom Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Walter Groom, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Groom (post 1700) +

  • Winston Francis Groom Jr. (1943-2020), American novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for writing Forrest Gump
  • Sam Groom, American actor
  • Robert Groom (1884-1948), American Major League Baseball player
  • B Pat Groom, American actor
  • Simon Groom (b. 1950), British television presenter and former disc jockey
  • Michael Groom, New Zealand footballer
  • William Groom Leftwich Jr. (1931-1970), officer of the United States Marine Corps

Empress of Ireland
  • Captain Charles Groom (1887-1914), English Second Class Passenger from England, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 7


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  6. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Angelina voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1844 with 171 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/angelina/1844
  7. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html


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