Griffeth
An anglicized form of the Welsh surname Griffith, meaning "strong" or "vigorous".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,091 Americans carry the last name Griffeth. That puts it at #16,147 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.61 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 163,919 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Griffeth surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.1K
1 in 163,919
Census rank
#16,147
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,792 bearers of the surname Griffeth in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16147th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Griffeth, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Black (5.0%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Griffeth
The surname GRIFFETH is of Welsh origin, deriving from the personal name Gruffydd, a Welsh form of the Old Celtic name Gryphiudh. This name is believed to have emerged in the 9th century, likely in the region of Powys, a historic county and principality in Wales.
GRIFFETH is a variant spelling of the more common Welsh surname Griffiths, which is a patronymic name meaning "son of Gruffydd." The name Gruffydd itself is thought to derive from the Welsh words "gryff" meaning "strong" or "vigorous" and "buddh" meaning "victory" or "lord."
One of the earliest known references to the GRIFFETH surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Griffi." This suggests that the name was already in use in England during the 11th century, likely brought over by Welsh settlers.
In the 13th century, a record from the Assize Rolls of Shropshire mentions a certain "Richard Griffeth," providing further evidence of the name's early usage in the Welsh border regions of England.
Notable individuals bearing the GRIFFETH surname throughout history include:
1. Rhys Griffeth (c. 1508 - 1594), a Welsh poet and writer from Carmarthenshire.
2. Sir John Griffeth (1562 - 1628), a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament for Carmarthen Boroughs.
3. Thomas Griffeth (1670 - 1725), a Welsh landowner and High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1699.
4. Evan Griffeth (1737 - 1803), a Welsh Anglican clergyman and author from Cardiganshire.
5. John Griffeth (1792 - 1876), a Welsh-American farmer and pioneer who settled in Pennsylvania in the early 19th century.
While the GRIFFETH surname is relatively uncommon today, its historical roots can be traced back to the ancient Welsh kingdoms and principalities, where it likely originated as a personal name before evolving into a hereditary surname over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Griffeth
Among Census respondents with the surname Griffeth, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Black (5.0%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Griffeth bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Griffeth surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.6%
- Black or African American5.0%
- Two or more races2.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.4%
- Unknown or suppressed0.9%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Griffeth surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,219 | #16,147 | 0.4% |
| Count | 1,638 | 1,792 | 9.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.61 | 0.61 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Griffeth bearers went from 1,638 to 1,792 (+9.4% change). The surname moved up 72 positions in the national ranking, going from #16,219 to #16,147.
FAQ
Griffeth surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Griffeth?
The surname Griffeth holds position #16,147 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,091 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Griffeth surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Griffeth, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Black (5.0%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.