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Grosse History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Grosse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Grosse come from its first bearer, who was a person who because of their physical characteristics was referred to as the gross man or the heavy man. At times, it was a personal name and variant of Grace. 1

Early Origins of the Grosse family

The surname Grosse was first found in Cornwall where the first record of the family was found in "Trescobays, or Triscobays, [which] was formerly inherited by the family of Grosse; after which it was purchased by Sir Peter Killigrew, together with the barton of Howard as a parcel of Tregangy." 2

"During [the reign of Elizabeth] four-fifths [of the manor of Rosmoddris] was granted to St. George Carye, and sold by him to Ezekiel Grosse, Esq. whose family had an ancient seat at Triclodevas in this parish." 2

"Leah or Leigh, [in the parish of St. Buryan, Cornwall] now occupied by a farmer, was anciently a seat of the Grosse family, and afterwards of the Usticks." 2

Not withstanding the Cornish origin of the name, some of the family may have originated elsewhere. By example, Willelmus filius grosse was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 in Suffolk. The same source also lists Willelmus Grossus in Norfolk. 3

Later in Yorkshire, Geraldus filius Grossi was listed there in the Pipe Rolls of 1176. Adam le Gros was listed at Holme in Norfolk 1186-1210 and Wiliam le Groos was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1314. 1

Early History of the Grosse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grosse research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1190, 1596, 1618, 1632, 1633 and 1654 are included under the topic Early Grosse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grosse 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. Grosse has been spelled many different ways, including Gross, Grosse, Grose and others.

Early Notables of the Grosse family

Notables of the family at this time include

Alexander Grosse (1596?-1654), English Presbyterian divine, born about 1596, the son of William Grosse, husbandman of Christow, Devonshire...
On the death of Henry Wallis in January 1633, Grosse was elected by the corporation of Plymouth to the vicarage of St...

Grosse Ranking

In the United States, the name Grosse is the 15,816^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4 However, in France, the name Grosse is ranked the 2,781^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 5

Grosse 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 Grosses to arrive in North America:

Grosse Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Grosse, aged 20, who arrived in New England in 1635 6
Isaac Grosse, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1635 6
Nicholas Grosse, who arrived in Maryland in 1651 6
Edmund Grosse, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1654 6
Margaret Grosse, who settled in America in 1659
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grosse Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Friedrick Grosse, aged 25, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 6
Ferdinand Grosse, aged 29, who landed in Missouri in 1840 6
Moritz Grosse, aged 26, who landed in Missouri in 1840 6
Franz Arnold Grosse, who arrived in America in 1848 6
Ferdinand Gotthilf Grosse, who landed in Desterro, Brazil in 1850 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grosse migration to Australia +

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

Grosse Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Traugott Grosse, aged 33, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Gellert" 7

Grosse 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:

Grosse Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Grosse, aged 22, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1876

Contemporary Notables of the name Grosse (post 1700) +

Demetrius Grosse (b. 1981), American actor and producer, best known for his role as Rock in the feature film Straight Outta Compton
Catrin G. Grosse (b. 1964), also known as Catrin Große, a German painter, graphic designer and sculptor
Léon Grosse, French founder of Léon Grosse, a French civil engineering and construction firm in 1881, now with over 2,300 employees
Katharina Grosse (b. 1961), German artist, known for her work in architecture, sculpture and painting
Maurice Grosse (1919-2006), British paranormal investigator, famous for his involvement in the Enfield Poltergeist case from 1977 to 1979
Julius Grosse (1828-1902), German poet and author from Munich
Hans-Werner Grosse (1922-2021), German Luftwaffe bomber pilot and glider pilot who established 50 world records approved by FAI Gliding Commission

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GELLERT 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Gellert.htm