Griffin (surname)

Griffin
Family name

Griffin surname map
Meaning "descendant of the Griffin-like"
Footnotes: [1]

Griffin is a surname of primarily Irish origin. Griffin was the 75th most common surname on the island of Ireland in 1891.[2] It was estimated in 2000 that Griffin is the 114th most common surname in the U.S., with a population in the order of two hundred thousand.[3]

Griffin in Ireland

The surname "Griffin" has two primary Gaelic sources in Ireland, which pertain to the towns of Ballygriffey in Co. Clare, and Ballygriffin in Co. Cork.

The spelling "Ó Gríofa" (male) / "Ní Ghríofa" (female) is associated with the Co. Clare family, whose surname was also anglicised as "O'Griffey" or "Griffey". "Ó Gríofa" translates to English as "descendant of the Griffin-like". Prior to the Irish spelling review, "Ó Gríofa" was spelt "Ó Gríobhtha".

The "Ó Grifín" (male) / "Ní Ghrifín" (female) spelling belongs to the Kerry family.

In Ireland, the name can also be associated with the Welsh surname "Griffith", but to a much lesser degree.[4]

Griffin in Wales

The surname "Griffin" in Wales, generally speaking, is a variant of the surname "Griffith", or other similar Welsh names.

Notable people with the Griffin surname

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Fictional characters surnamed Griffin

References

  1. ↑ 1990 Census Name Files
  2. ↑ Matheson 1891
  3. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau 1990
  4. ↑ O'Laughin 1997

See also


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