Surname Griffett - Meaning and Origin
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Griffett: What does the surname Griffett mean?
The last name Griffett is of English origin and is derived from the Old English nickname, Grifet, meaning "young vixen".
In the Middle Ages, Old English nicknames were used to differentiate between similarly named individuals or to refer to those with unique qualities or personality traits which set them apart.
The Griffett surname is thus likely to have originated as a way to identify or describe an individual with fox-like qualities such as cunning, alertness or resourcefulness.
The use of nicknames was also common in the Middle Ages, and the Griffett surname is likely to have arisen from a family who had a strong connection to foxes or who had adopted it as their own.
Today, the Griffett surname is found throughout the United States and Britain. The Moster database of family names shows that the name has been found in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, Stafforshire, Sussex and Lincolnshire.
The Griffett surname can also be traced back to the 13th century in the form of Grihfort, and records of a William Grihfort from Norfolk can be found in the Norfolk Inquisition of 1292.
In short, the last name Griffett is of English origin and is derived from the Old English nickname, Grifet, meaning "young vixen". It is thought to have been first used to denote a person with fox-like qualities, but over time this transformed to become more of a family name used by people throughout England and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisGriffett: Where does the name Griffett come from?
The surname Griffett seems to originate from Britain, particularly England, based on historical records. It is most likely derived from the given name Griffith, an old Welsh name meaning "the fierce lord". Over time, and under variant spellings influenced by regional accents and literacy levels, it may have developed into Griffett. Many bearers of the surname appear in English census records from the 18th and 19th centuries.
However, the name Griffett does not currently appear to be common. It is infrequent in the UK where it has possible origins, and also in other English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Name distribution services show very few global instances of the surname. This could be due to further evolutions of the name or a small original progenitor family. It should be noted that surnames in historical records were often written as they sounded, which allows for a multitude of spellings of the same name which contributes further to the difficulty in tracking a less common surname like Griffett.
Variations of the surname Griffett
The surname Griffett is not very popular, hence finding variants and spellings of it can be a bit challenging. However, this surname has roots in English and Welsh culture and appears to derive from the first name "Griffith." This makes it possible to identify potential variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin with similar phonetics. These may include, but are not necessarily limited to Griffeth, Griffitt, Griffith, Griffitts, and Griffits.
More extended forms could involve Griffiths and Griffithes, as these are originated from the same root but added with 's' or 'es' which were commonly used to denote 'son of.' 'Gruffydd' is also worthy of mention, as it is the original Welsh spelling from which the above variations have evolved. Of course, the exact variants and derivations can vary significantly -- surnames often morph over generations due to factors such as illiteracy, language shifts, or regional accents.
Please bear in mind that this is an estimation based on the phonetics and origins of the name. Even small changes in spelling can create distinct branches of family trees, so defining relationships should ideally involve more concrete genealogical research.
Famous people with the name Griffett
- Tom Griffett: An Australian musician, best known as a member of 80s rock band Radio Birdman
- Drew Griffett: An American actor and singer, known for his roles in the Disney Channel series "Cory in the House" and "Good Luck Charlie"
- Cactus Joe Griffett: A curiosities collector and reputedly the first member of the church of Satan
- Brody Griffett: An American professional wrestler signed to WWE and NXT
- Austin Griffett: A professional boxer from Sacramento, California
- Christianity Griffett: An American singer-songwriter who has released multiple EP's
- Les Griffett: A former MLB pitcher, who is now the pitching coach for the Seattle Mariners
- Jimmy Griffett: A Detroit blues musician from the 1940s
- Jana Griffett: An Australian soap star best known for playing Kim Hope in the long running series Home and Away
- Larry Griffett: A retired English footballer, who played for Nottingham Forest and Grimsby Town during the 1970s and 80s.