Surname Griffith - Meaning and Origin

Rediscovering Familial Roots through iGENEA: The Griffith Surname Saga

A fulfilling journey unfolded as I took a DNA analysis at iGENEA that traced my family name, Griffith, back to historic Welsh roots, diverging my earlier understanding of it being predominantly Irish. The experience revealed royal connections, Viking invasion influences, and hence, a grander scheme of my heritage.

M. Griffith

Griffith: What does the surname Griffith mean?

Griffith is a surname of Welsh origin that originally functioned as a personal name. It is derived from the Old Welsh elements "grif" meaning "strong grip" and "udd" meaning "chief, lord, prince". Therefore, the combined name roughly translates to "strong lord" or "strong chief." Over the years, it evolved into a hereditary surname. The spelling variations of this Welsh surname are numerous and include Griffiths, Griffin, and Griffits among others. The name is particularly prevalent in Wales and Liverpool, due to Welsh immigration to the area in the 19th century. It's a common surname for people of Welsh descent around the world. Some well-known persons with this surname are American actress and model Melanie Griffith and American pioneer aviator and film producer, D. W. Griffith.

Griffith: Where does the name Griffith come from?

The surname Griffith is of Welsh origin and comes from the Old Welsh personal name "Gruffudd". This name combines the elements "gruff", meaning "strong grip", with "udd", meaning "chief or lord". The name Griffith was popularized in the Middle Ages, particularly in Wales and the English border counties of Cheshire and Shropshire, thanks to the Welsh prince and national hero Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.

Today, the surname remains common in Wales and England. However, due to historical emigration patterns, it also has a significant presence in the United States, Australia, and other English-speaking countries. In the U.S, it is most prevalent in the states of Texas, California, and Florida. Notable individuals with the surname include legendary director D.W. Griffith, famous for pioneering modern cinematic techniques in the early 20th century, and actress Melanie Griffith. Despite the international dispersion, the surname Griffith still proudly signifies a connection to the rich, historical tapestry of Wales.

Variations of the surname Griffith

The surname Griffith finds its origins from the Welsh language and is originally derived from the Old Welsh personal names Grippiud and Gruffudd. It is also an Anglicized form of the Welsh name Gruffudd which means "strong grip" or "Prince".

There are several variants and spellings for the name Griffith. Some of these include Griffths, Griffiths, Gryffudd, Gruffudd, and Griffyth. Griffth is another commonly found variant. Griffey, Grippiud, Griffit, and Gruffydd are also used. In some instances, the surname is shortened to Griff.

Regional variations and phonetic spellings sometimes seen include Griffitts, Gruffith, and Griffiss. In past centuries, illiteracy was common and names were therefore written down how they sounded, leading to many variations.

The surname has also been incorporated into several longer surnames of anglo-welsh origin. Names like Pritchard, Prichard, and Parry, originally ap Richard and ap Harry (son of Richard and son of Harry), underwent similar modification when the Welsh patronymic system was replaced by static surnames. In the same way, surnames like Gruffydd, Guto, Griffi, and Gutyn (all meaning son of Gruffudd) eventually become Griffith.

In Ireland, some Mcgrath families changed their surname to Griffith as it sounds similar.

Famous people with the name Griffith

• Andy Griffith: American actor best known for "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Matlock".
• Melanie Griffith: Famous American actress known for her roles in "Working Girl" and "Something Wild".
• D.W. Griffith: Early 20th century American filmmaker lauded as a pioneer in cinema.
• Emile Griffith: Professional boxer from the U.S. Virgin Islands, he was a World Champion in the welterweight class.
• Richard Griffith: Known as a British army officer and geologist, he made a significant contribution to Irish geology.
• Kenneth Griffith: Welsh actor and filmmaker.
• Hugh Griffith: Welsh film, stage and television actor.
• Thomas Griffith: American journalist, author, and editor.
• Nanci Griffith: American singer, guitarist, and songwriter, spanning several genres like folk, country, and pop.
• Bill Griffith: American cartoonist famous for his comic strip Zippy.
• Rachel Griffiths: Australian actress and director, famous for her roles in "Six Feet Under" and "Muriel's Wedding".
• Arthur Griffith: Irish politician and writer, known for being one of the important figures in the founding of the Irish Free State.
• Jennifer Griffith: Well-known author of lighthearted, clean, romance novels.
• Gwyneth Griffith: Welsh writer and translator.

Other surnames

GriffinGriffingGriffisGriffithsGriffitts