NameCensus.

UK surname

Griffith

A Welsh surname derived from the given name Gruffudd, meaning "lord" or "prince."

In the 1881 census there were 9,759 people recorded with the Griffith surname, ranking it #439 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,076, ranked #1,112, down from #439 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Llanbeblig, Llanllyfn and Ynys-Cynhaiarn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Griffith is 11,311 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.7%.

1881 census count

9,759

Ranked #439

Modern count

6,076

2016, ranked #1,112

Peak year

1851

11,311 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Griffith had 9,759 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #439 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,076 in 2016, ranked #1,112.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11,311 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Griffith surname distribution map

The map shows where the Griffith surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Griffith surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Griffith over time

The 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 11,311 #220
1861 historical 11,258 #218
1881 historical 9,759 #439
1891 historical 10,570 #418
1901 historical 9,054 #584
1911 historical 8,350 #598
1997 modern 5,872 #1,115
1998 modern 6,035 #1,126
1999 modern 6,165 #1,113
2000 modern 6,110 #1,119
2001 modern 5,946 #1,120
2002 modern 6,004 #1,136
2003 modern 5,911 #1,121
2004 modern 5,921 #1,118
2005 modern 5,875 #1,109
2006 modern 5,850 #1,117
2007 modern 5,895 #1,118
2008 modern 5,930 #1,118
2009 modern 6,150 #1,109
2010 modern 6,271 #1,110
2011 modern 6,203 #1,102
2012 modern 6,034 #1,112
2013 modern 6,206 #1,101
2014 modern 6,208 #1,105
2015 modern 6,116 #1,110
2016 modern 6,076 #1,112

Geography

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Where Griffiths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Llanbeblig, Llanllyfn, Ynys-Cynhaiarn, Holyhead and Llanddeiniolen. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gwynedd. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Llanbeblig Carnarvonshire
2 Llanllyfn Carnarvonshire
3 Ynys-Cynhaiarn Merionethshire
4 Holyhead Anglesey
5 Llanddeiniolen Carnarvonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gwynedd 012 Gwynedd
2 Gwynedd 014 Gwynedd
3 Gwynedd 003 Gwynedd
4 Gwynedd 011 Gwynedd
5 Gwynedd 007 Gwynedd

Forenames

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First names often paired with Griffith

These lists show first names that appear often with the Griffith surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Griffith

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Griffith, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Griffith surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Griffith household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Griffith is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Griffith is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Griffith falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Griffith is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Griffith, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Griffith

The surname Griffith has its origins in Wales, deriving from the Welsh personal name Gruffudd, which is a compound of the Welsh elements gru, meaning "vigor" or "ardor," and ffudd, meaning "lord" or "prince." The name Gruffudd is believed to have been first used around the 9th or 10th century.

The name Griffith is thought to have emerged as an Anglicized form of Gruffudd during the Middle Ages, as the Welsh and English cultures intermingled. The earliest recorded instances of the surname Griffith can be found in medieval records from Wales and the Welsh Marches, the border region between Wales and England.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Griffith can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Griffith in Cheshire, England.

In the 12th century, a prominent figure named Griffith ap Cynan (c. 1055-1137) was a Welsh king and prince who ruled the Kingdom of Gwynedd. He played a significant role in the struggle for Welsh independence against the Normans.

Another notable individual with the surname Griffith was Sir Rhys ap Gruffydd (c. 1508-1531), a Welsh landowner and member of the gentry who led a rebellion against the English crown in 1536, known as the Glamorgan Uprising.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Griffith became more widespread in England, particularly in the counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire, where many Welsh families had settled.

In later centuries, several individuals with the surname Griffith made significant contributions in various fields. For example, David Griffith (1792-1863) was a Welsh nonconformist minister and writer, while William Griffith (1810-1845) was a British geologist and naturalist who made important contributions to the study of Indian paleontology and geology.

Another notable figure was Arthur Griffith (1871-1922), an Irish political leader and the principal founder of the Irish Free State. He played a pivotal role in the Irish independence movement and served as the President of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State in 1922.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and significance of the surname Griffith, which has its roots in the ancient Welsh language and has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds and professions throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Griffith families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Griffith surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Caernarfonshire leads with 2,982 Griffiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.49x.

County Total Index
Caernarfonshire 2,982 77.49x
Anglesey 741 43.93x
Lancashire 646 0.57x
Merionethshire 636 36.52x
Glamorgan 634 3.83x
Cheshire 628 2.99x
Middlesex 602 0.63x
Denbighshire 275 7.65x
Staffordshire 268 0.83x
Surrey 234 0.50x
Warwickshire 168 0.70x
Shropshire 138 1.68x
Yorkshire 131 0.14x
Gloucestershire 129 0.69x
Kent 124 0.38x
Somerset 124 0.81x
Worcestershire 112 0.90x
Pembrokeshire 110 3.64x
Flintshire 106 4.14x
Monmouthshire 87 1.26x
Carmarthenshire 78 1.94x
Montgomeryshire 76 3.48x
Durham 60 0.21x
Derbyshire 58 0.39x
Devon 50 0.25x
Northamptonshire 44 0.49x
Essex 42 0.22x
Sussex 41 0.26x
Hampshire 34 0.17x
Wiltshire 30 0.36x
Lanarkshire 28 0.09x
Cardiganshire 25 1.08x
Brecknockshire 24 1.26x
Leicestershire 21 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 21 0.16x
Oxfordshire 20 0.34x
Cornwall 19 0.18x
Hertfordshire 17 0.26x
Herefordshire 15 0.38x
Radnorshire 15 1.95x
Aberdeenshire 14 0.16x
Berkshire 14 0.20x
Buckinghamshire 14 0.24x
Northumberland 13 0.09x
Cumberland 12 0.15x
Norfolk 12 0.08x
Argyllshire 11 0.42x
Midlothian 11 0.09x
Bedfordshire 10 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 8 0.13x
Ayrshire 7 0.10x
Lincolnshire 6 0.04x
Isle of Man 5 0.28x
Renfrewshire 5 0.07x
Suffolk 5 0.04x
Westmorland 4 0.19x
Dorset 3 0.05x
Royal Navy 3 0.26x
Channel Islands 2 0.07x
Fife 1 0.02x
Inverness-shire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.02x
Sutherland 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanbeblig in Caernarfonshire leads with 309 Griffiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.12x.

Place Total Index
Llanbeblig 309 79.12x
Ynyscynhaiarn 222 123.90x
Llanllyfni 181 99.66x
Bangor 172 46.34x
Llanddeiniolen 169 75.12x
Holyhead 143 45.47x
Denio 134 148.87x
Llanberis 129 130.21x
Llanllechid 126 46.57x
Festiniog 121 32.93x
Llanrug 116 115.09x
Amlwch 104 65.51x
Clase 89 14.44x
Birmingham 82 1.03x
Aberdaron 81 205.64x
Dolgelley 78 60.22x
Llanfihangel Y Traethau 77 77.78x
Nevin 77 117.88x
Llanaber 74 107.40x
Abererch 73 129.59x
Llanwnda 65 91.15x
Llandwrog 64 47.46x
Llanfair Is Gaer 64 120.53x
Llaniestyn 64 213.98x
Llanrwst 63 50.63x
Islington London 62 0.67x
St Pancras London 62 0.81x
Clynnog 59 112.08x
Liverpool 59 0.86x
Toxteth Park 59 1.54x
Penmorfa 56 139.55x
Ystradyfodwg 55 3.78x
Aston 54 0.82x
Everton 53 1.47x
Llandegai 53 44.99x
Birkenhead 51 3.05x
Chester St Oswald 50 13.14x
Llangian 49 137.87x
Wednesbury 47 5.85x
West Derby 45 1.36x
Kirkdale 44 2.32x
Llanfrothen 44 127.54x
Bryncroes 43 157.51x
Margam 41 22.18x
Penllech 40 531.21x
Newcastle Under Lyme 38 6.69x
Whitby 38 78.40x
Camberwell 37 0.61x
Llannor 37 119.82x
Withycombe 36 396.04x
Hulme 35 1.48x
Llanfihangel Y Pennant 35 150.67x
Llanystymdwy 35 93.11x
Manchester 35 0.69x
Llanengan 34 73.50x
Allington 33 122.95x
Aberdare 32 2.81x
Lambeth 32 0.39x
Llanaelhaiarn 32 67.51x
Meyllteyrn 32 357.14x
Llanbadrig 31 89.60x
St Marylebone London 31 0.61x
Trefdraeth 31 106.46x
Dolbemaen 30 195.57x
Kensington London 30 0.57x
Merthyr Tydfil 30 1.88x
West Ham 30 0.72x
Cwmdu 29 14.37x
Aber 28 194.44x
Hammersmith London 28 1.19x
Llanidan 28 62.33x
Llansamlet Higher 28 22.65x
Warrington 28 2.09x
Hackney London 27 0.51x
Llandanwg 27 81.18x
Llanenddwyn 27 86.71x
Llangurig 27 51.55x
Llangybi 27 145.95x
Kidderminster Borough 26 3.57x
Llandysilio 26 49.15x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Griffith surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 700
Jane 432
Elizabeth 407
Margaret 274
Ellen 264
Ann 258
Sarah 224
Catherine 179
Anne 148
Eliza 89
Annie 84
Hannah 82
Alice 79
Martha 78
Laura 64
Cathrine 62
Emily 62
Emma 60
Louisa 39
Ellin 38
Harriet 36
Edith 35
Maria 32
Kate 30
Elizth. 29
Frances 27
Grace 27
Florence 26
Margret 26
Fanny 24
Ada 23
Charlotte 22
Amelia 21
Caroline 21
Clara 20
Gwen 17
Lucy 17
Margt. 17
Eleanor 16
Esther 16
Rebecca 16
Dorothy 15
Harriett 14
Amy 13
Janet 12
Maggie 12
Rachel 12
Ruth 12
Gertrude 11
Lizzie 11

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Griffith surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 760
William 716
Thomas 328
Robert 265
David 189
Richard 179
Owen 172
George 130
Edward 125
Griffith 125
Hugh 123
Henry 120
Evan 104
James 102
Joseph 89
Charles 83
Samuel 67
Alfred 41
Wm. 37
Arthur 36
Morris 32
Daniel 30
Thos. 29
Walter 25
Frederick 24
Humphrey 22
Albert 21
Harry 21
Lewis 21
Herbert 20
Edwin 19
Ellis 18
Ernest 17
Isaac 16
Rowland 16
Benjamin 15
Rees 15
Francis 14
Frank 14
Morgan 11
Peter 10
Robt. 10
Jno. 9
Richd. 9
Geo. 8
Stephen 8
Josiah 7
Moses 6
Saml. 6
Phillip 5

FAQ

Griffith surname: questions and answers

How common was the Griffith surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9,759 people were recorded with the Griffith surname. That placed it at #439 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Griffith surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,076 in 2016. That gives Griffith a modern rank of #1,112.

What does the Griffith surname mean?

A Welsh surname derived from the given name Gruffudd, meaning "lord" or "prince."

What does the Griffith map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Griffith bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.