Griffin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland-Alt
Ireland

Etymology of Griffin

What does the name Griffin mean?

The Griffin surname is derived from the Welsh personal names Griffin, Gruffin, or Griffith. These were pet-forms of the Middle Welsh name Gruffudd, which was borne by many Welsh princes. The name came to Ireland in the 12th century with the Anglo-Norman invasion of Strongbow. There was also a native Irish line whose name originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Gríobhtha, which is derived from the word "gríobhtha," which means "griffin-like." 1 It is thought that most of the bearers of the Griffith variant of the name are of Welsh ancestry.

Early Origins of the Griffin family

The surname Griffin was first found in the province of Munster, where they had been granted lands by Strongbow after the Anglo Norman invasion into Ireland in 1172.

Early History of the Griffin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Griffin research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1710 is included under the topic Early Griffin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Griffin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Griffin, O'Griffin, Griffen, O'Griffen, Griffith, Griffey, Griffy, O'Griffy and many more.

Early Notables of the Griffin family

Edward Griffin 1st Lord Griffin Of Braybrooke, who died in the Tower Of London on November 10, 1710

Griffin World Ranking

the United Kingdom, the name Griffin is the 231^st most popular surname with an estimated 25,151 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Griffin is ranked the 264^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,877 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Griffin is the 223^rd popular surname with an estimated 2,572 people with that name. 4 Canada ranks Griffin as 578^th with 8,607 people. 5 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Griffin as 266^th with 166 people. 6 The United States ranks Griffin as 98^th with 208,908 people. 7

Griffin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet and Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet

Miss Elizabeth Griffin, (n?e Macomick), (1745 - 1816), aged 42, British settler convicted in Exeter, Devon, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 8

Second Fleet

Miss Ann Griffin, British settler family support staff, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 9
Mrs. Mary Griffin, (née Amos), (d. 1794), British settler family support staff, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 9
Mr. Michael Griffin, British settler family support staff, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 9
Mr. Nathan Griffin, British settler family support staff, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 9
Mr. Thomas Griffin, British settler family support staff born at sea, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 9

Following the First and Second Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Griffin Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Christopher Griffin, (Harrison), English convict who was convicted in Ely (Isle of Ely), Cambridgeshire, England for 14 years for robbery, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9

Griffin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Oliver Griffin, Irish convict who was convicted in Meath, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Miss Teresa Griffin, (b. 1795), aged 18, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1816 11
Mr. William Griffin, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. William Griffin, (b. 1791), aged 31, Irish ploughman who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for life for rioting, transported aboard the "Brampton" on 8th November 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Henry Griffin, English convict from Berkshire, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Griffin migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Griffin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Griffin, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1840
John Griffin, aged 19, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Sir Charles Forbes" in 1842
Mr. CharlesGriffin, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Duke of Portland" arriving in New Plymouth, North Island, New Zealand in 1855 15
Mrs. Griffin, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Duke of Portland" arriving in New Plymouth, North Island, New Zealand in 1855 15
Oliver Griffin, aged 25, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Shamrock" in 1856
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Griffin migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

Griffin Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. George Griffin, Cornish settler from Marazion, Cornwall, (b. 1616), aged 18, British settler travelling from Plymouth, England aboard the ship "Margarett" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) on 1st March 1634 17
Miss Ann Griffin, (b. 1600), aged 35, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 18
Mr. Thomas Griffin, (b. 1603), aged 32, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 18

Griffin migration to Canada +

Griffin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Griffin, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
William Griffin, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
William Griffin, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1752
John Griffin, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1752
Mr. John Griffin U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 154 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Griffin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Griffin, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1815
Mary Leasy Griffin, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1822
Catherine Griffin, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1830
Horatio N Griffin, who arrived in Canada in 1830
Ellen Griffin, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1833
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Griffin migration to the United States +

Griffin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Reginald Griffin, who landed in Virginia in 1621 20
Rise Griffin, aged 24, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "Flying Hart" 20
Thomas Griffin, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 20
John Griffin, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 20
Richard Griffin, who settled in Virginia in 1623
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Griffin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Owen Griffin, who landed in Virginia in 1701 20
Humphrey Griffin, who landed in Virginia in 1712 20
Henry Griffin, who arrived in Virginia in 1713 20
Ambrose Griffin, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 20
Andrew Griffin, who landed in Virginia in 1715 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Griffin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lady Christina Griffin, who arrived in Virginia in 1807 20
Daw Griffin, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 20
Benjamin Pitt Griffin, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1812 20
Jeremiah Griffin, aged 35, who landed in New York in 1812 20
Geo Griffin, aged 19, who landed in Key West, Fla in 1837 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Griffin (post 1700) +

Gerald D. "Gerry" Griffin (b. 1934), American former NASA flight director and director of Johnson Space Center and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Susan Griffin (1943-2025), American author and feminist, best know for “Woman and Nature: The Roaring Inside Her” (1978)
Major Griffin Gracy (1946-2025), often referred to as Miss Major, American author, activist and community organizer for transgender rights, participated in activism and community organizing for a range of causes, and served as the first executive director for the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project
Loyal Martin "Marty" Griffin Jr. (1920-2024), American physician, environmentalist and conservationist in Northern California and author of the book Saving the Marin-Sonoma Coast
Brian Griffin (1948-2024), British photographer
Sir Geoffrey William Griffin OBE (1933-2005), founding director of Starehe Boys' Centre and School in Kenya
Drew Griffin (1962-2022), American four-time Emmy Award winning journalist known for his work at American cable news channel CNN
David Ray Griffin (1939-2022), American professor of philosophy of religion and theology and a 9/11 conspiracy theorist, co-founder of the Center for Process Studies in 1973
Pádraigh Griffin (1975-2022), Irish Gaelic footballer with Clonakilty, member of the Cork senior football team (1997-2004)
... (Another 39 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Griffin family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. John Griffin (1940-1985), American Flight Captain from Miami, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 21
Mrs. Violetta Griffin (1887-1914), née Boaz Canadian Third Class Passenger from Brantford, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 22
Mrs. Grace Griffin (1886-1914), née Withnell Canadian Second Class Passenger from Cloverdale, British Columbia, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 23
Miss Winniefred Griffin (1913-1914), Canadian Second Class Passenger from Cloverdale, British Columbia, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 23
Mr. Charles A Griffin (b. 1921), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Alresford, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 23
... (Another 7 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Griffin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ne vile Velis
Motto Translation: Wishing nothing base.

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Brampton
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Cornish in the Caribbean (retrieved on 23rd September 2021). Retrieved from https://books.google.ca/books?id=gnSFDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA265&lpg=PA265&dq=wallen+lizard+cornwall&source=bl&ots=ARTnm6uRLv&sig=ACfU3U3ewicUaBkTuwC_Gpr0ic-
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
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)
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm