UK surname
An anglicized form of the Welsh surname Griffith, meaning "strong" or "vigorous".
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Griffeth surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Shenstone and Wednesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Griffeth is 368 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 97.4%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
368 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Griffeth surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Griffeth surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 143 | #13,343 |
| 1861 | historical | 368 | #6,935 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 149 | #18,420 |
| 1901 | historical | 46 | #29,047 |
| 1911 | historical | 16 | #31,804 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Shenstone, Wednesbury, Bedwelty and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Shenstone | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Wednesbury | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Bedwelty | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Griffeth surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Griffeth, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Griffeth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Griffeth household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Griffeth is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Griffeth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Griffeth, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GRIFFETH is of Welsh origin, deriving from the personal name Gruffydd, a Welsh form of the Old Celtic name Gryphiudh. This name is believed to have emerged in the 9th century, likely in the region of Powys, a historic county and principality in Wales.
GRIFFETH is a variant spelling of the more common Welsh surname Griffiths, which is a patronymic name meaning "son of Gruffydd." The name Gruffydd itself is thought to derive from the Welsh words "gryff" meaning "strong" or "vigorous" and "buddh" meaning "victory" or "lord."
One of the earliest known references to the GRIFFETH surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Griffi." This suggests that the name was already in use in England during the 11th century, likely brought over by Welsh settlers.
In the 13th century, a record from the Assize Rolls of Shropshire mentions a certain "Richard Griffeth," providing further evidence of the name's early usage in the Welsh border regions of England.
Notable individuals bearing the GRIFFETH surname throughout history include:
1. Rhys Griffeth (c. 1508 - 1594), a Welsh poet and writer from Carmarthenshire. 2. Sir John Griffeth (1562 - 1628), a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament for Carmarthen Boroughs. 3. Thomas Griffeth (1670 - 1725), a Welsh landowner and High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1699. 4. Evan Griffeth (1737 - 1803), a Welsh Anglican clergyman and author from Cardiganshire. 5. John Griffeth (1792 - 1876), a Welsh-American farmer and pioneer who settled in Pennsylvania in the early 19th century.
While the GRIFFETH surname is relatively uncommon today, its historical roots can be traced back to the ancient Welsh kingdoms and principalities, where it likely originated as a personal name before evolving into a hereditary surname over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Griffeth surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 6 Griffeths recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 6 | 4.80x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 6.88x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 1.14x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 6.20x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.08x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 8.27x |
| Anglesey | 2 | 30.49x |
| Carmarthenshire | 2 | 12.81x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 6.25x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.54x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.91x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Audley in Staffordshire leads with 6 Griffeths recorded in 1881 and an index of 483.87x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Audley | 6 | 483.87x |
| Charlton Kings | 5 | 1000.00x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 4 | 112.68x |
| Toxteth Park | 4 | 26.88x |
| Wollescote | 4 | 1025.64x |
| Leintwardine | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Llandingat | 2 | 571.43x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 14.68x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 10.57x |
| Dover St Mary Virgin | 1 | 81.97x |
| Holyhead | 1 | 81.97x |
| Linthorpe | 1 | 45.66x |
| Middle Hulton | 1 | 384.62x |
| Rhoscolyn | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Scarborough | 1 | 29.94x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 28.74x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 3.35x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Griffeth surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Griffeth surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Griffeth households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Slatter & Plasterer | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Bank Manager (Serv) | 1 |
| Bucket Maker | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| China Glass Dealer | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Formerly Laundress | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Puddler Ironworks | 1 |
| Railway Clerk | 1 |
| Serv | 1 |
| Turner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Griffeth surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Griffeth a modern rank of #39,061.
An anglicized form of the Welsh surname Griffith, meaning "strong" or "vigorous".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Griffeth bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.