Show ContentsGrinndel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Grinndel family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Grinndel comes from when the family lived at Grindall, a chapelry, in the parish and union of Bridlington, wapentake of Dickering in the East Riding of Yorkshire. 1 2 3 4 The place name literally means "green valley." 5

Alternatively the name could have been derived from "Grindel and Grendel which were Anglo Saxon personal names [cp. Old English (poet.) grindel, a bar, bolt] Grendel was the name of the ogre killed by Beówulf." 6

Early Origins of the Grinndel family

The surname Grinndel was first found in Worcestershire where AEdricus Grendal was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1180. Other early rolls include: Robert de Grenedala in the Yorkshire Pipe Rolls of 1166; Walter de Grendale in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1242; Stephen, Benedict de Grindale in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1297 and again in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumbria in 1332. 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two listing for the family: Roger de Grendale, Huntingdonshire; and Walter de Grendale, Yorkshire. 2

Early History of the Grinndel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grinndel research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1519, 1536, 1537, 1538, 1548 and 1583 are included under the topic Early Grinndel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grinndel Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Grinndel has appeared include Grindall, Grindal, Grindle, Grindell, Grindel and others.

Early Notables of the Grinndel family

Notables of the family at this time include Edmund Grindal (c.1519-1583), Bishop of London, Archbishop of York and Archbishop of Canterbury. He was "s the son of William Grindal, a well-to-do farmer who lived at Hensingham, in the parish of St. Bees, Cumberland, a district which Grindal himself described as 'the ignorantest part in religion, and most oppressed of covetous landlords of anyone part of this realm'. He went at an early age to Cambridge, where he entered first at Magdalene College, and then removed to Christ's College...
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Grinndel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Grinndel family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Grinndel arrived in North America very early: Edward Grindall who settle in Virginia in 1623; Edward Grindall settled in St. Christopher in 1635; Thomas Grindall settle in Virginia in 1639; William GRindall settled in Barbados in 1654.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print


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