Find out how popular the last name Gribbin is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gribbin.

Gribbin, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gribbin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gribbin in America

Gribbin is the 23251st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gribbin surname appeared 1,096 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Gribbin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gribbin to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gribbin

The surname Gribbin has its origins in Ireland, where it first appeared in the early 11th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "gribín," which means "griffin" or "mythical beast." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was considered fierce or brave, akin to a griffin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gribbin can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1031, a man named Gribbin mac Fergail is mentioned as a participant in a battle against the Norse invaders.

In the centuries following, the Gribbin name spread across various regions of Ireland, particularly in counties such as Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo. The name also appeared in various spellings, including Gribbins, Gribben, and Gribbins.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Gribbin name gained prominence in Ulster, where several notable individuals bore the surname. One such figure was Brian Gribbin (1570-1634), a prominent landowner and military leader who fought alongside Hugh O'Neill during the Nine Years' War against English forces.

Another notable Gribbin was Niall Gribbin (1620-1691), a Catholic priest who played a significant role in preserving Irish language and culture during the Penal Laws. He was known for his teachings and writings, which helped keep the Irish language alive during a period of oppression.

In the 18th century, the Gribbin name made its way across the Atlantic to America, with many Irish immigrants settling in various parts of the colonies. One of the earliest recorded Gribbins in America was John Gribbin (1725-1799), a farmer and soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

As the centuries progressed, the Gribbin name continued to spread across Ireland, Great Britain, and the United States. Notable individuals bearing the surname include Robert Gribbin (1841-1924), an Irish-American politician and civil servant, and John Gribbin (born 1946), a British astrophysicist and science writer known for his popular science books.

While the Gribbin surname may have evolved from a nickname for a fierce individual, it has become a proud part of Irish heritage and history, with its bearers leaving their mark in various fields across the globe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gribbin

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gribbin.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gribbin was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gribbin has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Gribbin was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gribbin, please contact us.

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