Grigs

This surname derives from Greg or Grig, medieval short forms from the personal name Gregory, itself coming from the Greek "Gregorios" with a general meaning of being watchful. It came to be used in Latin in connection with flocks and herds, referring to the watchfulness and care displayed by a shepherd. In the medieval period the English word Grigge, meaning "a person of small stature" was sometimes used as nickname, and was also to lead to the surname Grigg. There was a Stephen le Grig mentioned in the Sussex Subsidy Rolls (1327). Variant forms of the surname Grigg are found as Griggis, Gricks and Grix. One Comer Grigge was baptised on September 9th 1580 at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster, London. Dorothie, daughter of Michael and Mary Grigg was baptised on June 29th 1631 at St. Gregory by St. Paul's, London. A Coat of Arms granted to a Grigg family depicts a chevron between three griggs (or young eels) with tails in the mouth, silver, on a red shield. The Crest is a horse's head erased silver, and the Motto, "Ut prosim", translates as "That I may use". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Warin Grygga, which was dated 1282, in the "Feet of Fines of Essex", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.