GRIFFITHS
Griffiths is a surname of distinctly Welsh origin, rooted in the Celtic linguistic tradition of the British Isles. The name belongs to the class of patronymic surnames, meaning that it originally signified descent from an ancestor bearing the personal name Gruffydd.
The personal name Gruffydd evolved from the Old Welsh form Grippiud, later rendered as Griffudd and Gruffudd. The first element, Griff, is thought to convey the idea of a “strong grip”, while the suffix ‑udd denotes “chief” or “lord”. Consequently, the meaning of the name is commonly interpreted as “strong lord” or “powerful chief”.
In medieval South Wales the name was pronounced “Griffidd”. Scribes who were not native Welsh often transcribed the sound as Griffith, a spelling that approximated the pronunciation within the orthographic conventions of the time. The patronymic suffix s was subsequently added, producing the ubiquitous form Griffiths, which came to be used widely both as a forename and as a surname throughout Wales.
The earliest documented instance of the surname in England occurs in the Suffolk Subsidy Rolls of 1524, where a “Jone Gryffyth” is listed. An even earlier spelling, Gryttyth, appears in a 1295 record from the Lordship of Oswestry during the reign of King Edward I. The name also features in early colonial history: a Richard Griffiths departed London aboard the vessel *Hopewell* in February 1634, bound for the Barbadoes.
Today, the surname Griffiths remains prevalent in Wales and among the Welsh diaspora, often associated with individuals who exhibit a strong and influential character, echoing the etymological heritage of “strong lord”.
Typical given names associated with the Griffiths surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- William
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Julie
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Griffith
- Grffiths
- Girffiths
- Griffeths
- Griffieth
- Griffifths
- Griffihs
- Griffinths
- Griffit
- Griffithe
- Griffithes
- Griffithis
- Griffits
- Griffitt
- Griffitts
- Griffth
- Griffths
- Grifftihs
- Grifftiths
- Grififths
- Grifith
- Grifiths
- Griiffiths
- Griphithes
- Greffith
- Griffeth
- Griffi
- Griffies
- Griffiiths
- Griffis
- Griffitch
- Griffuth
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Griffiths in...
Braille
⠛⠗⠊⠋⠋⠊⠞⠓⠎
Morse
--..-.....-...-...-.......
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Griffiths are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Digestive.
There are approximately 95,337 people named Griffiths in the UK. That makes it the 57th most common surname in Britain. Around 1,464 in a million people in Britain are named Griffiths.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Wales
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Welsh
Famous people named Griffiths
- Richard Griffiths - Actor (1947 to 2013)
- Leigh Griffiths - Scottish football player
- Jemma Griffiths - Welsh singer, songwriter, and record producer
- Lucy Griffiths - Actress
- Barri Griffiths - Welsh professional wrestler
- Derek Griffiths - Film and television actor
- Andrew Griffiths - Politician
- Louise Griffiths - Singer
- Ciarán Griffiths - Actor
- Katie Griffiths - Actress
- Terry Griffiths - Snooker player
- Peter Griffiths - Politician (1928 to 2013)
- Jaye Griffiths - Actress
- Leslie Griffiths - Minister
- Brian Griffiths, Baron Griffiths of Fforestfach - Politician
- Trevor Griffiths - Playwright
- Jane Griffiths - Politician
- Jane Griffiths - Actress (1928 to 1975)
- Iwan Griffiths - Welsh drummer
- Paul Griffiths - Writer
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.