Show ContentsGrinndell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Grinndell name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having 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 Grinndell family

The surname Grinndell 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 Grinndell family

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

Grinndell Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Grinndell has undergone many spelling variations, including Grindall, Grindal, Grindle, Grindell, Grindel and others.

Early Notables of the Grinndell 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 Grinndell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Grinndell family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Grinndell were among those contributors: 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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