UK surname
Derived from the Welsh name Gruffudd, meaning "lord" or "prince," or from a nickname for someone with red hair.
In the 1881 census there were 88 people recorded with the Griffis surname, ranking it #21,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 39, ranked #35,484, down from #21,211 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Wolstanton and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Griffis is 280 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 55.7%.
1881 census count
88
Ranked #21,211
Modern count
39
2016, ranked #35,484
Peak year
1851
280 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Griffis surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Griffis 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 | 280 | #8,043 |
| 1861 | historical | 186 | #12,751 |
| 1881 | historical | 88 | #21,211 |
| 1891 | historical | 115 | #21,878 |
| 1901 | historical | 57 | #27,846 |
| 1911 | historical | 86 | #24,243 |
| 1997 | modern | 28 | #34,904 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 25 | #35,413 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 23 | #35,786 |
| 2005 | modern | 26 | #35,674 |
| 2006 | modern | 27 | #35,746 |
| 2007 | modern | 30 | #35,661 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 50 | #34,663 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 37 | #35,553 |
| 2012 | modern | 32 | #35,820 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 32 | #35,896 |
| 2015 | modern | 35 | #35,702 |
| 2016 | modern | 39 | #35,484 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Wolstanton, Kings Norton, Dolwyddelan and Manchester. 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 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Wolstanton | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 4 | Dolwyddelan | Denbighshire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Griffis 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 Griffis, 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 Griffis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Griffis 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, Griffis 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 Griffis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Griffis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GRIFFIS is believed to have originated in Wales during the medieval period. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the Welsh name Griffith, which is derived from the Old Welsh elements "griff" meaning "vigor" or "strength" and "rhi" meaning "lord" or "leader." The name was likely adopted as a patronymic, meaning it would have initially referred to the son or descendant of someone named Griffith.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GRIFFIS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landholdings and property ownership in England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, a person named Griffyn filius Griffis is mentioned as holding land in the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Over time, the name GRIFFIS spread beyond Wales and into other parts of Britain and eventually to other parts of the world through migration and colonization. Throughout its history, the name has appeared in various spellings, including Griffis, Griffiss, Griffies, and Griffeys, among others.
One notable historical figure with the surname GRIFFIS was John Griffis (c. 1599-1675), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of St. Albans from 1661 until his death. Another was William Griffis (1836-1928), an American writer and educator who published several books about Japan and its culture.
In the 17th century, a branch of the GRIFFIS family settled in the American colonies, and several individuals with this surname played roles in the American Revolutionary War. For example, Samuel Griffis (1753-1826) served as a soldier in the Continental Army, while his brother Ichabod Griffis (1755-1844) served in the militia in New Jersey.
Another notable bearer of the GRIFFIS name was Stanton Griffis (1887-1975), an American businessman and diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Spain from 1951 to 1952 and later as the Ambassador to Argentina from 1960 to 1962.
Throughout its long history, the surname GRIFFIS has maintained a strong connection to its Welsh origins, even as it has spread across the globe and adapted to various cultural and linguistic contexts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Griffis 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. Middlesex leads with 21 Griffis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 21 | 2.42x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 0.78x |
| Devon | 6 | 3.32x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.32x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 3.68x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 2.28x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 4.41x |
| Surrey | 4 | 0.95x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 3.05x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 3.12x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.35x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 3.07x |
| Buckinghamshire | 2 | 3.81x |
| Dorset | 2 | 3.51x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.32x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 1.71x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.34x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.72x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.75x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.22x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.87x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 9.67x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.33x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.72x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.34x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 8 Griffis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.44x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Griffis 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 Griffis 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 Griffis households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Accountant | 1 |
| Beerhouse Keeper | 1 |
| Boot & Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Boot Laster | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Captain Barge | 1 |
| Captains Wife | 1 |
| Coal Miners Wife | 1 |
| Commercial Clerk | 1 |
| Cook (D S | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Decorator | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Dustman Scavenger | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Gas Clerk | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| General Servant Dom | 1 |
| Gun Maker | 1 |
| Gunner Royal Artillery | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Ironworks Labourer | 1 |
| Labo Builders | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Ladies Maid | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Major On Retired List | 1 |
| Majors Wife | 1 |
| Moulder (Iron) | 1 |
| No Occ | 1 |
| Ord | 1 |
| Pursemaker (Ft) | 1 |
| Railway Guard | 1 |
| Railway Laborer | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Rway Porter | 1 |
| Sawyer | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Ship Carpenter | 1 |
| Shoemaker Finisher | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 88 people were recorded with the Griffis surname. That placed it at #21,211 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 39 in 2016. That gives Griffis a modern rank of #35,484.
Derived from the Welsh name Gruffudd, meaning "lord" or "prince," or from a nickname for someone with red hair.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Griffis 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.