Surname Gribl - Meaning and Origin

Gribl: What does the surname Gribl mean?

The last name Gribl is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname originating from Eastern Europe. The name was traditionally used to indicate that the bearer of the name was a member of the Gribl family. This name is likely derived from the Yiddish word "gribben," which means "to take apart or to break down," and some scholars suggest that this name may be a reference to a person who was known for their hunting, fishing, or dismantling of merchandise.

Most Gribl families originated from the countries that now make up Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Poland, and Russia. It is believed that when the families immigrated to other lands, they anglicized their name to forms such as Gribl, Grebl, Gribble, Graple, and Griple.

As the name began to spread throughout Europe, it began to take on various meanings and spellings. The name could come from the German word "greppel," which means a ditch or canal, suggesting a person who had ancestral ties to agricultural work in ditches or canals. It could also be associated with the Polish word "gribleb," which means "to cut down (a tree)" and refers to someone who worked in the logging industry.

Today, the Gribl name is found worldwide, and most of the descendants of the Gribl family are spread across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many other countries. The original meaning of the name remains a mystery because of its many spellings and variations over time.

Gribl: Where does the name Gribl come from?

The last name Gribl is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe today, particularly in countries like Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. In German-speaking countries, it can also be spelled Gribel or Gribble, with slight variation based on regional dialects.

It is thought to be of Slavic origin, with a variety of different theories about its meaning. Some believe that it was derived from the Slavic word gribi, meaning ‘tower’ or ‘elevated place’, while others believe it to be based in the Old French greb, which means ‘twig’ or ‘branch’.

The name is most frequently found in historical records from the mid-1800s and, according to the US Census Bureau, there are approximately 1,900 individuals in the US with the Gribl family name, with the majority living in cities like New York, Michigan, and California.

It is also very common in parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland and Northern England, with around 1,200 individuals recorded in England and Wales in the 2019 census. The name is also present in other countries, like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Gribl

Gribl is a German surname derived from a nickname meaning "scraping." There are several variants and spellings of the name, such as Gribble, Gribel, Gribbell, and Griebel, among others. All of these variations likely originate from a similar meaning and remain fairly common throughout Germany.

The surname Gribl is also found in other parts of Europe and the Americas. Variations of the name such as Gribule, Griebl, and Griebel are found in France, Poland, and Northern Ireland. In the Americas, variations such as Grable and Graebel can be found, mostly in the United States and Brazil.

Gribl is also often seen associated with other surnames such as Griebel and Griebling. This is likely the result of immigration to different parts of the world, where two different spellings of the same name were encountered and merged.

Finally, it is important to note that in some regions of Germany Gribl is seen as an archaic spelling of Grubel, a similar sounding name with a slightly different meaning. So, although both names appear to share a common origin, the two spellings and meanings cannot be taken as interchangeable. However, it is likely that any of these variants would be considered related and could be easily connected to one another.

Famous people with the name Gribl

• Steve Gribl: He is world-renowned German violinist and recording artist.
• Erika Gribl: She was a beloved Austrian YA author, nominated for two Bavarian Book Prizes and awarded several other accolades throughout her life.
• Julie Gribble: She is an American singer/ songwriter, composer, arranger and producer, and is best known for her work with bands "The Natural Year" and "The Late Blooming Flowers".
• Gerhard Gribl: He was a professional German football player who won the 1980-81 German Cup with Bayern Munich.
• Madeline Gribble: She is an award-winning English children's book author who has written and illustrated a variety of books, as well as illustrated many more.
• Peter Gribl: He is an Austrian mathematician and physicist who worked for the University of Vienna and is best known for his work on mathematical models for turbulence.
• Erich Gribl: He was a highly decorated World War II German tank commander from Austria, awarded both a Knight's Cross and a German Cross in Gold.
• Silvia Gribl: She is a German contemporary music composer and teacher, best known for her chamber music compositions and her work for children's choirs.
• Mario Gribl: He is a German musician, recording artist and composer who has released 6 CDs and one EP under his own name.
• Anton Gribl: He is a German historian who specializes in European intellectual history from the Enlightenment to modernism.

Other surnames

GribelGribeleGribeler