Griffin Family Crest, Coat of Arms & Griffin Name Origin

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Origin of the Name Griffin

The ancient history of the name Griffin was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. Griffin is a baptismal name meaning 'the son of Griffin', borne by early Welsh princes. This name is of Welsh descent spreading to England , Ireland and Scotland in early times, and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout the above countries. Examples of such are a John Griffith of Bangor, who was recorded in the 'Wills of Chester' in the year 1585. A Robertus Gryffyn was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire, England , in the year 1379. Robertus Griffin held land in Newtyle, Scotland , before 1226. In Ireland the main sept of this name was O'Griobhtha, whose territory was in the south-eastern barony of Inchiquin, County Clare, their seat being the Castle of Ballygriffy, near Ennis. Most of the descendants of the sept are today to be found in Counties Clare, Limerick , Kerry and Cork .