Griffin

Griffin
Recorded as O' Griffin, McGriffin, McGriffen, McGraffin, Griffen, Griffin, and probably others, this is a surname of at least three distinct origins. Without a prefix it may be English, Irish or Welsh, and which in their earliest ancient origins, are almost certainly linked. With the prefix it is always either Irish or Scottish. Firstly the current spelling may derive from the Old Welsh personal name "Gruffydd", composed of the elements "griff" of uncertain etymology but belived to mean a dragon, and "udd", a chief or lord. Secondly, it may have been of Anglo-Saxon or Germanic origins, and used as a baptismal name for a child, one whose the parents hoped would grow up to be a fierce person! Here the derivation is from the pre 7th century Old High German "grifan", meaning to snatch, grasp, and used in a transferred form to mean a dragon, a mythical animal which was believed to seize passing people. Thirdly, it may be of Irish origin, from the Gaelic O'Griobhtha, the prefix O', denoting male descendant of, plus the personal name "Grioghtha", from "griobh", also meaning gryphon. Early examples of recordings taken from surviving rolls and charters of medieval times include such examples as Robert Griffin in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Warwickshire, in 1130, and John Grifen in the Chartulary of the Priory of St. Thomas, the Martyr, near Stafford in 1230.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Griffin — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Adrian Griffin (* 1974), US amerikanischer Basketballspieler Alan Griffin (* 1960), australischer Politiker Andy Griffin (* 1979), englischer Fußballspieler Angela Griffin (* 1976), englische… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Griffin — Griffin, GA U.S. city in Georgia Population (2000): 23451 Housing Units (2000): 9636 Land area (2000): 14.520335 sq. miles (37.607494 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.077816 sq. miles (0.201542 sq. km) Total area (2000): 14.598151 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Griffin — Grif fin, Griffon Grif fon, n. [OE. griffin, griffon, griffoun, F. griffon, fr. L. gryphus, equiv to gryps, Gr. ?; so called because of the hooked beak, and akin to grypo s curved, hook nosed.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Myth.) A fabulous monster, half… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Griffin, GA — U.S. city in Georgia Population (2000): 23451 Housing Units (2000): 9636 Land area (2000): 14.520335 sq. miles (37.607494 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.077816 sq. miles (0.201542 sq. km) Total area (2000): 14.598151 sq. miles (37.809036 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Griffin, IN — U.S. town in Indiana Population (2000): 160 Housing Units (2000): 81 Land area (2000): 0.067702 sq. miles (0.175347 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.067702 sq. miles (0.175347 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • griffin — griffin, griffon, gryphon A griffin (also spelt many other ways, e.g. griffon and, e.g. by Lewis Carroll, gryphon) is ‘a fabulous creature with an eagle s head and wings and a lion s body’. A griffon is (1) a small dog like a terrier, and (2) a… …   Modern English usage

  • griffin — [grif′in] n. [ME griffon < OFr grifoun < OHG or It grifo, both < L gryphus, earlier gryps < Gr gryps, griffin < grypos, hooked, curved (prob. so called from its hooked beak) < IE base * ger > CRANK1] a mythical monster with… …   English World dictionary

  • Griffin — Grif fin, n. An Anglo Indian name for a person just arrived from Europe. H. Kingsley …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Griffin [1] — Griffin, Gerald, geb. 1803 zu Limerick in Irland, widmete sich der Literatur u. wendete sich 1823 nach London, wo jedoch seine beiden Trauerspiele Aguise u. Gysippus nicht aufgeführt wurden. Nach zweijähriger Noth gelang es ihm, Mitarbeiter an… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Griffin [2] — Griffin, Stadt in der Grafschaft Pike des Staates Georgia (Nordamerika) an der Macon Western Eisenbahn; Handel, namentlich in Baumwolle, 4 Kirchen; 4000 Ew …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Griffin — Griffin, Hauptstadt der Grafschaft Spalding im nordamerikan. Staat Georgia, Bahnknotenpunkt, mit College, starkem Baumwollhandel u. (1900) 6857 Einw …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

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