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There are approximately 36,933 people named Griffin in the UK. That makes it the 244th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 585 are named Griffin.

Region of origin

British Isles

Country of origin

Wales

Language of origin

Welsh

Religion of origin

Christian

Classification

Celtic
From given name or forename

Related and similar surnames

Griffen
Graffin
Griffan
Griff
Ggriffin
Grifffin
Ggrifin
Greffen
Grffin
Griffi
Griffian
Goriffin
Griffein
Grieffin
Greiffin
Griffeon
Grffine
Garifin
Griffeni
Gorifin
Grifffn
Griffani
Grfin
Grieffine

The Griffin surname in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

A name given to a noted man, whose qualities or disposition, in some respects, resembled this fabulous creature. Griffwn, in Welsh, is applied to a man having a crooked nose, like a hawk's bill. Gryffyn, in the Cornish British, signifies "to give." It may be the same as Griffith.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

GRIFFIN. A common baptismal name in Wales. Domesday shews us a Grifin in Cornwall, and in Chesliire a Grifin lice, first a fiivom-ite of Edw. the Confessor, and afterwards a rebel against him. He was probably a Welsli border prince. The same old record presents us with a " Grifin puer" and a " Grifin filiusMariadoc," most likely identical, as a tenant in chief in co. Hereford.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.

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