UK surname
A variant of the surname Griffith, derived from the Welsh personal name meaning "Lord's descendant".
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Griffitts surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Griffitts is 340 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 97.1%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1891
340 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Griffitts surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Griffitts 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 | 21 | #29,550 |
| 1861 | historical | 256 | #9,667 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 340 | #10,062 |
| 1901 | historical | 97 | #23,227 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Wolverhampton and St Leonard Shoreditch. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 5 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Griffitts 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 Griffitts, 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 Griffitts surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Griffitts 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, Griffitts 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 Griffitts is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Griffitts, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Griffitts is of Welsh origin, derived from the personal name Griffith, which is a combination of the Welsh words "griff" meaning "lord" or "prince" and "ridd" meaning "passion" or "ardor." The name can be traced back to the early medieval period in Wales, around the 11th or 12th century.
The Griffitts surname is believed to have originated in the counties of Carmarthenshire and Glamorgan in Wales, areas with a strong Welsh cultural influence. It was initially spelled in various ways, such as Griffith, Griffiths, Griffits, and Griffitts, reflecting the regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling at the time.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gruffudd" and "Griffinus." This indicates that the name was already in use among the Welsh population during the Norman conquest of England.
In the 13th century, the name Griffitts appears in several historical records, including the Annales Cambriae, a chronicle of Welsh history. One notable figure from this period was Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (c. 1223-1282), a Welsh prince who led a rebellion against English rule in Wales.
Throughout the centuries, the Griffitts surname has been associated with various notable individuals. In the 15th century, Griffith ap Rhys (c. 1420-1490) was a Welsh nobleman and military leader who fought against the English during the Wars of the Roses. Sir Rhys Griffiths (c. 1508-1580) was a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, Sir William Griffith (1599-1677) was a Welsh lawyer and politician who served as Speaker of the House of Commons. Another prominent figure was Ralph Griffiths (1720-1803), an English clergyman and writer who founded the Monthly Review, one of the earliest literary magazines.
The 19th century saw the rise of several individuals with the Griffitts surname, including Evan Griffiths (1809-1882), a Welsh Nonconformist minister and author, and John Griffiths (1837-1918), a Welsh coal owner and Liberal politician who served as Member of Parliament for Derby.
Throughout its history, the Griffitts surname has been associated with various place names and locations in Wales, such as Griffithstown, a village in Monmouthshire, and Griffithsfield, a hamlet in Pembrokeshire. These places likely derived their names from individuals bearing the Griffitts surname who once resided or held lands in those areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Griffitts 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. Monmouthshire leads with 10 Griffitts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.54x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Monmouthshire | 10 | 40.54x |
| Shropshire | 10 | 33.92x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 5.21x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 7.47x |
| Herefordshire | 2 | 14.30x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.29x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 2.24x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alberbury in Shropshire leads with 10 Griffitts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14285.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Alberbury | 10 | 14285.71x |
| Skenfrith | 9 | 12857.14x |
| Westbury On Severn East | 5 | 331.13x |
| Tipton | 4 | 113.31x |
| Sedgley | 2 | 46.73x |
| Abergavenny | 1 | 108.70x |
| Eastham | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Hereford St John | 1 | 625.00x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 5.27x |
| Pencombe | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Griffitts 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 Griffitts 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 Griffitts households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Charring Ocasionaly | 1 |
| Farmer 21 Acres | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| General Serv (Ag) | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Kitchen Maid | 1 |
| Ladies Maid | 1 |
| Miner | 1 |
| Officers Wife | 1 |
| Waggoner | 1 |
| Wife Of Miner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Griffitts surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Griffitts a modern rank of #39,061.
A variant of the surname Griffith, derived from the Welsh personal name meaning "Lord's descendant".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Griffitts 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.