Griffin Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Griffin mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Griffin name
Griffin is an English form of the Welsh personal name Gruffudd, whose Latinised spelling Griffinus was common in medieval records. In Ireland it anglicises Ó Gríofa, "descendant of Gríofa", a sept of County Clare. The surname is common in England, Wales and Ireland, and widespread in the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Griffin name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Griffin name in Wales & England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Ireland and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Griffin pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Griffin coat of arms for you.
Griffin name FAQ
What does the Griffin name mean?
From Gruffudd; descendant of Gríofa. Common variants include Griffith, Griffen, Griffiths.
Where does the Griffin surname come from?
It originates in Wales & England, and is also found in the United States, Ireland and Australia.
Is there a Griffin coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Griffin crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Griffin coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; US Census Bureau 2010.