Griese History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

The Griese surname is thought to be derived from the Middle English word "grice," which is in turn from the Old French "gris," meaning "grey." It was most likely originally a nickname for a grey-haired man. Although, there was also a Middle English word "grise," which meant "pig." 1

While this etymology is typical, we must take the time to point out the Norman origin which is just as likely as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Richard de Grisy, as holding lands there in 1180. 2

Early Origins of the Griese family

The surname Griese was first found in Norfolk where conjecturally they were, in 1066, Lords of the Manor of Brockdish, the King's land, whose feudal Lord was William de Noyers, Count of Nevers seated originally at Poitevin and St-Cyr de Nevers in Normandy. Sir William also held Grayhurst Manor through Bishop Odo from King William of Normandy. From this family also descend the Lords Monson and Viscounts Castlemaine. The original estates were sold in 1327. The village now consists of a church, St. Edmunds, which has both Saxon and Norman windows, obviously predating the Norman Conquest by many years.

The parish of St. Mawes in Cornwall has an interesting entry. One source asserts that the lands of St. Mawes including the castle "was first given to Sir Robert Le Grice, a Spaniard, by whose son, in the reign of Elizabeth, it was sold to Hannibal Vyvyan, Esq. of Trelowarren." 3

Early History of the Griese family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Griese research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1555 and 1651 are included under the topic Early Griese History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Griese Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Grice, Gryce, Gryse, Grise, Grisewood, DeGrice, Grycie and many more.

Early Notables of the Griese family

More information is included under the topic Early Griese Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Griese family to Ireland

Some of the Griese family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Griese migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Griese Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johannes Griese, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752 4

Griese Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Griese, who landed in Indiana in 1852 4
Willhelm Griese, who landed in Arkansas in 1899 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Griese (post 1700) +

Frank W. Griese (1870-1955), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Evansville, Indiana, 1930-35; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1932 5

Historic Events for the Griese family +

Bismarck

Hermann Griese (1903-1941), German Leutnant (Ing.) d. Res. who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details