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

Griffing, 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 Griffing surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Griffing in America

Griffing is the 22481st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Griffing surname appeared 1,144 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 Griffing.

We can also compare 2010 data for Griffing 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 Griffing

The surname GRIFFING is believed to have originated from the Old English word "grif," meaning "thicket" or "small wood." This name is primarily associated with England and can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 7th to 9th centuries.

The earliest recorded instances of the name GRIFFING can be found in various historical documents from the Middle Ages. One notable reference is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the name is mentioned in relation to land ownership in several counties across England.

During the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, many people with the surname GRIFFING were likely inhabitants of areas with dense forests or woodlands. As such, the name may have initially been used to denote someone who lived near or worked in a thicket or small wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname GRIFFING was William Griffing, born in Staffordshire, England, around 1380. He was a prominent landowner and played a role in local governance during the 15th century.

Another notable figure was John Griffing, born in Warwickshire in 1512. He was a successful merchant and held influential positions within the guild system of his time.

In the 17th century, Edward Griffing (1623-1690) was a Puritan settler who emigrated from England to the American colonies. He became one of the founding settlers of Southold, Long Island, and played a significant role in the establishment of the town.

Later, in the 18th century, Susannah Griffing (1745-1823) was a renowned poet and writer from Suffolk, England. Her works were widely published and celebrated during her lifetime.

Additionally, the name GRIFFING has been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Griffing's Wood in Gloucestershire and Griffing's Hill in Dorset. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, reflecting the connection between the name and woodland areas.

While the surname GRIFFING is not among the most common surnames, it has a rich history dating back to the early medieval period in England. The name's origins are rooted in the Old English language and have been carried through generations, appearing in various historical records and associated with notable individuals over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Griffing

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

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 Griffing 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 Griffing 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 Griffing was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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