Surname Grice - Meaning and Origin
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E. Grice
read moreGrice: What does the surname Grice mean?
The surname Grice is thought to have originated from the Old English word 'gris' meaning 'pig'. It is believed that the surname was given either to a keeper of pigs or to someone who lived near a pigsty.
Several families with the surname Grice were recorded in England during the Middle Ages. These mostly lived in southern England, with the majority residing in Dorset and Devon. Records show John Grice, living in Kent in 1311, and William Grice in Somerset in 1327. Interestingly, some of these names are also found in Wales, indicating that the surname may have been introduced to the region either through migration or intermarriage.
In the United States, the surname can be found dating back to the 1600s. One of the earliest settlers was James Grice, who arrived in Virginia in 1616. Other records include John Grice in Virginia in 1665 and Nathaniel Grice in Pennsylvania in 1712.
Today, there are numerous variants of the surname Grice. These include (but are not limited to) Greaves, Grece, Gryce and Gricey. In the present day, the Grice surname is most prevalent in the United Kingdom, followed by the United States and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisGrice: Where does the name Grice come from?
Today the last name Grice is commonly found in the United Kingdom, especially in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Oxfordshire. The Grice family name derives from the pre-10th century Old English root "gris" which meant "pig" or "hog." It is believed that the name may have been first used as a nickname for an ancestor who was thought to possess characteristics of a pig.
The first known spelling of Grice as a surname is found in a valid record from 1262 in Gloucestershire. It is recorded as Ricardi filij Grici. Over the centuries Grice has been known to reside in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire.
Grice is currently on the list of top surnames in the UK according to the Forebears surname database, making it one of the more common surnames in the British Isles. Additionally, Grice is also a popular surname that is common in the United States, especially in states such as California, Texas, Florida, and New York.
Overall, the last name Grice has a long history and is currently spread throughout the United Kingdom and the United States. As a surname, the Grice name has a deep connection to the story of British ancestry and many people still proudly carry it today.
Variations of the surname Grice
The surname Grice is an English patronymic surname deriving from the Medieval given name "Grice," which is a diminutive form of "Griffin" or "Gryffin." That name itself has Germanic origins and is derived from the Old High German "griz," meaning "strong and brave." The surname is also found in other countries, particularly in Ireland as Greig, Gregg, or Gregoire, and in Scotland as Grieve and Gregg.
Variant spellings of the Grice surname include Griec, Greice, Greic, Gryce, Greig, Griece, Grege, Greece, Greace, Griege, Griess and Graice. Common surnames that are thought to have the same origin as Grice include Griswold, Greaves, Greer, Greig, Greigson, Greis, Gregoire, Greggory, Gryffin, Gryphon, Gryson, Grize, Grzybek and Griese.
The variations of the Grice surname have also been anglicised to several versions, such as Grease, Greisy and Greggs. These can be found more frequently in Irish and Scottish families.
Due to the wide range of variants, spellings and surnames with similar origins, Grice is sometimes found spelled differently within the same family. The different spellings stem from the historic diversity of languages and dialects used in different parts of the United Kingdom, as well as the difficulty of writing down unusual names. Over the centuries, many people would be recorded with the spelling of the best-known version of their name. The name Grice may also have been altered intentionally to give the family a distinct identity.
Famous people with the name Grice
- Camilla Grice: a British Paralympic swimmer who competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games in London.
- Al Grice: an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour from 1929 to 1949.
- Bob Grice: an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies between 1962-1964.
- Bob Grice Jr.: a former NASCAR driver who raced from 1985-1990.
- Henry Grice: a British rower who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.
- Hugh Grice: a former professional footballer who played in The Football League for West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers, and Reading between 1975-1981.
- Mike Grice: an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for three clubs between 1971-1979.
- Steve Grice: a former professional footballer who played in The Football League for Swansea City, Gillingham, and Brentford between 1969-1975.
- Flo Grice: a former theatrical agent and producer who made numerous appearances on British television in the 1980s.
- Tom Grice: an American comedian, writer, and actor who is known for his work on Adam Sandler's movies, The Wedding Singer and The Waterboy.