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Show ContentsGriffiths History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Etymology of Griffiths

What does the name Griffiths mean?

The name Griffiths is from the rugged landscape of Wales. It is a Celtic name that was 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 most prominent of these was Griffith ap Cynan, the King of North Wales and the founder of the first Royal tribe of Wales; he was the eldest son of Rhodri Mawr, the first recorded King of Wales.

Gruffydd ab Llewelyn (d. 1063), King of the Welsh, was the son of Llewelyn, the son of Seisyll. His father, who, according to a late authority, had married Angharad, daughter of Maredudd, son of Owain, a descendant of Hywel Dda (Gwentian Brut, sub an. 994), had been a vigorous ruler over Gwynedd. 1

Gruffydd ab Rhydderch (d. 1055), king of the South Welsh, was the son of Rhydderch, son of lestin, who in 1023 had assumed the government of the south after the death of Llewelyn ab Seisyll, and was killed by the Irish in 1033. 1

Gruffydd ab Cynan (1055?-1137), King of Gwynedd or North Wales, was, through his father Cynan, son of Iago, a descendant of Rhodri Mawr and of the ancient royal line of Gwynedd. 1

Gruffydd ab Gwenwynwyn (d. 1286?), was Lord of Cyveiliog, Upper Powys, or, as it was called from his father, Powys Gwenwynwyn, was the son of Gwenwynwyn, the son of Owain Cyveiliog. 1

Early Origins of the Griffiths family

The surname Griffiths was first found in Chirk, where Gruffyd ap Madog Vnyon was listed in 1392. 2

Early History of the Griffiths family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Griffiths research. Another 248 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1332, 1392, 1553, 1558, 1567, 1570, 1599, 1601, 1618, 1622, 1628, 1637, 1640, 1646, 1665, 1666, 1700 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Griffiths History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Griffiths Spelling Variations

Welsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Griffiths has occasionally been spelled Griffith, Griffiths, Gryffudd, Gryffuths and others.

Early Notables of the Griffiths family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Mauirce Griffith, Griffyth or Griffyn (d. 1558), Bishop of Rochester, born in Wales, and educated in the south suburb of Oxford, among the Dominicans. 1 Edmund Griffith (1570-1637), was Bishop of Bangor, born at Cevnamlwch in Lleyn, the promontory of Carnarvonshire, in 1570. 1 John Griffith or Griffin (fl. 1553), was a Welsh monk of the order of Cistercians in the, monastery of Halesowen in Worcestershire. 1 George Griffith (1601-1666), was Welsh bishop of...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Griffiths Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Griffiths World Ranking

In the United States, the name Griffiths is the 2,821st most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Griffiths is ranked the 888th most popular surname with an estimated 6,018 people with that name. 4 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Griffiths is the 659th popular surname with an estimated 67 people with that name. 5 Australia ranks Griffiths as 125th with 21,553 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Griffiths as 145th with 3,427 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Griffiths as 58th with 74,163 people. 8

Migration of the Griffiths family to Ireland

Some of the Griffiths family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Griffiths migration to the United States +

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in search of land, work, and freedom. These immigrants greatly contributed to the rapid development of the new nations of Canada and the United States. They also added a rich and lasting cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Griffiths:

Griffiths Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Griffith Griffiths, who settled in Virginia in 1663
Griffiths Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Griffiths, who landed in Carolina in 1709 9
  • Samuel Griffiths, who arrived in America in 1715-1716 9
  • Ann Griffiths, who arrived in America in 1764 9
Griffiths Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Griffiths, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 9
  • Mr. John Griffiths, aged 6, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Britannia" on 20th July 1840
  • Miss Margt Griffiths, aged 26, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Britannia" on 20th July 1840
  • Mrs. Mary Griffiths, aged 61, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Britannia" on 20th July 1840
  • Mr. William Griffiths, aged 54, British miner who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Britannia" on 20th July 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Griffiths migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Griffiths Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Griffiths, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • William Griffiths, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Ann Griffiths, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Ms. Rebecca Griffiths U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbor, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 10
  • Ms. Anne Griffiths U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbor, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Griffiths Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mary Griffiths, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1814
  • Thomas Griffiths, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838
  • Biddy Griffiths, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838
  • John Griffiths, who arrived in Esquimalt British Columbia in 1862

Griffiths migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Griffiths Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Miss Elizabeth Griffiths, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Griffiths Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Rachel Griffiths, (b. 1786), aged 17, Welsh convict who was convicted in Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1849 12
  • Miss Rachel Griffiths, (b. 1786), aged 18, British convict who was convicted in England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 2nd January 1804, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • John Griffiths, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Miss Elizabeth Griffiths, (b. 1792), aged 20, English servant who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Emu" in October 1812, the ship was captured and the passengers put ashore, the convicts were then transported aboard the "Broxburnebury" in January 1812 arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1832 15
  • Mr. Harry Griffiths, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Griffiths 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:

Griffiths Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas H Griffiths, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bee" arriving in New Zealand in 1832 17
  • John Griffiths, aged 22, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
  • Lucy Griffiths, aged 22, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
  • Simeon George Griffiths, aged 1, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
  • Mr. John Griffiths, (b. 1820), aged 22, British shepherd and gardener travelling from London aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Griffiths 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. 19
Griffiths Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Richard Griffiths, (Griffs), aged 24 who settled in Barbados in 1634 aboard the ship "Hopewell"

Contemporary Notables of the name Griffiths (post 1700) +

  • W. M. Griffiths, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 50th District, 1939-50 20
  • Stephen D. Griffiths (b. 1894), American Republican politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Macon County, 1945-48 20
  • Thomas C. Griffiths, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Washington at-large, 1889 20
  • Rosalie Griffiths, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1980 20
  • Robert E. Griffiths, American politician, Mayor of Washington, Pennsylvania, 1933 20
  • R. C. Griffiths, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Tenerife, 1905 20
  • Percy Wilfred Griffiths (1893-1983), American Republican politician, Mayor of Marietta, Ohio, 1938-39; U.S. Representative from Ohio 15th District, 1943-49 20
  • Martha Wright Griffiths (1912-2003), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1947; Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1949-52 20
  • Marjorie M. Griffiths, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee, 1940 20
  • John Lewis Griffiths (1855-1914), American Republican politician, Member of Indiana State House of Representatives, 1887; Indiana reporter of State courts, 1889-93; U.S. Consul in Liverpool, 1905-09; U.S. Consul General in London, 1909-14 20
  • ... (Another 30 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Leonard F Griffiths (b. 1923), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Eastbourne, Sussex, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 21
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Clifford John Griffiths, British Petty Office Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 22
  • Mr. David J Griffiths, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 22
  • Mr. Griffiths, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 22
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. John Isaac  Griffiths, British Writer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 23
  • Mr. William Henry Griffiths, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 23
  • Mr. Guy Richmond Griffiths, Australian Midshipman from Australia, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 23
HMS Royal Oak
  • James R. Griffiths (1921-1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24
  • Edward John Griffiths (1915-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24
Prince of Wales colliery
  • Mr. David Griffiths (b. 1852), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 25
  • Mr. James Griffiths (b. 1841), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 25
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. John Humphrey Griffiths, English Chief Steward 3rd Class from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 26
  • Mr. William Henry Griffiths, English Refrigeration Greaser from Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 26
  • Mr. Samuel Herman Griffiths, English Trimmer from Everton, Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 26
  • Mr. Christopher William Griffiths, Welsh 2nd Class passenger residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 27
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. Albert John Griffiths (b. 1892), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 28
  • Mr. David F. Griffiths (b. 1885), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 28
  • Mr. Edward Griffiths (b. 1895), Welsh coal miner from Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 28
  • Mr. Llewellyn Griffiths (b. 1881), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 28
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Robert Alfred Griffiths, American Electrician's Mate Third Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 29
USS Indianapolis
  • Leonard Sylvester Griffiths, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 30
Victoria steamboat disaster
  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  5. 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)
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  9. 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)
  10. 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
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
  14. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Emu
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  20. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, June 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  21. 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
  22. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  23. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  24. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  25. Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
  26. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  27. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  28. Universal Colliery Senghenydd 1913 disaster retrieved 21st September 2019, retrieved from http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm
  29. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
  30. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew

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