Surname Griffl - Meaning and Origin
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Griffl: What does the surname Griffl mean?
The origin of the surname Griffl is not known with certainty, though there are various theories. Some believe that the name is of German origin, derived from the word ‘griffin’, which was a mythical creature described as having the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Alternatively, it is thought to be connected to the ancient Anglo-Saxon word ‘gryphe’, meaning ‘hook’, relating to the Griffin’s hooked beak.
Another suggestion is that the name is of Jewish-German origin and was applied as an anglicized form of the name Grifel; this name is derived from the Yiddish word ‘grifel’ meaning ‘curved’ or ‘hooked’.
The Griffl name is recorded in church archives from around Bern in Switzerland dating back to the 16th century. The name was also later recorded in the 17th and 18th centuries in England and Scotland, where the Griffl spelling became Griffin. In the UK the original Griffin spelling was mainly found in the highlands of Scotland.
The Griffin spelling continued to be most common throughout the 19th and 20th century in the UK, although the Griffl spelling sometimes appears in records and in civic documents. Today, the surname is most commonly associated with Griffin, but there are some people with the name Griffl spread throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisGriffl: Where does the name Griffl come from?
The last name Griffl is not particularly common in today's world, and it does not appear on the list of America’s most popular surnames. The name is most often found in Austria and German-speaking countries.
The name likely originates from the German last name Griphl or Griepel which meant “swing” or “turning point.” This refers to the turning point of a river or the swing of a hammer. In some cases, the name may have derived from an old Slavic word, grif, meaning “the ridge of a mountain.”
In the United States, the last name Griffl appears most often in New York state. This is possibly because of the high number of German immigrants in New York during the 1800s. The last name also pops up in the Midwest in states including Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.
It appears regularly in Canadian records as well, particularly in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. Many Canadian citizens with the last name Griffl likely immigrated from German-speaking countries or the United States.
If you have the last name Griffl, it’s likely that some of your ancestors had the same name. You might be related to people who still live in Austria and German-speaking countries, or you may be related to those who relocated to the U.S. or Canada. Regardless, it’s fun to explore and trace your family tree to learn more about the history of the last name.
Variations of the surname Griffl
The surname Griffl is of German origin. It is derived from the German given name "Griffel," which is an ancient diminutive for Griffin or Gryffin. The Griffin or Gryffin is a mythical creature found in English and European folklore. It is said to have the head, wings, and talons of an eagle, combined with the body and hind legs of a lion. Variants and spellings of the Griffin surname include Griffel, Griffle, Griffles, Griffling, Grifflingen, and Griff.
Surnames derived from the same source may include Griffinger, Griffle, Grifflin, Griffling, Grifflingen, Grifflinen, Griffön, Griefen, Griepen, Gryffen, and Gryffon. Many of these variants originate from German. Griffen, for example, is an Anglo-Saxon variant of Griffin and Griffinen, while Griffling, Grifflein, and Griepen are all related forms of Griffin.
Griffin and Gryffin are derived from the Latin word "grifyin" meaning "hook." This term was used to describe birds of prey with curved talons. From this source we can also see other surnames belonging to the same family, such as Grieves, Gripon, and Gripain.
The Griffl surname is not especially common and can be found mainly in German-speaking countries, though it is not limited to these. It can also be seen in records in the United Kingdom, France, Austria, and Switzerland. In the United States, it can be found occasionally in records from colonial times in the 1600s and 1700s.
Famous people with the name Griffl
- Griff Furst: filmmaker, producer, actor, and writer
- George Griffin: NCAA Football coach
- John Grifft: former NFL defensive back
- Bruce Griffin: Canadian actor
- Henry Grifft: Actor best known for his role in The Chronicles of Narnia
- David Grifft: Actor who appeared in the Harry Potter series
- Robert Grifft: Actor known for his roles in The West Wing and The X-Files
- Thomas Grifft: Actor who appeared in the movie Red Dawn
- Brian Grifft: Professional wrestler
- Ryan Grifft: MLB pitcher
- Alex Grifft: British actor best known for the Black Mirror series
- Tricia Grifft: Wildlife conservationist and National Geographic explorer
- Bill Grifft: Environmental policymaker and political advisor
- Benjamin Grifft: Nobel Prize-winning physicist
- Eric Grifft: Computer graphics pioneer
- Geoffrey Grifft: Astronomer and astronomical instrument designer
- Gerald Grifft: Linguist and language activist
- Ruth Grifft: Biologist and leading evolutionary thinker
- Helen Grifft: Nuremberg prosecutor and Holocaust survivor
- Julius Grifft: 19th century U.S. Congressman from Maryland