Surname Greyff - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Greyff: What does the surname Greyff mean?
The last name Greyff is of Scottish origin and is usually found in the United States. The surname Greyff derived from the Scottish town of Grange, which is near the River Forth in Stirling. It is believed that the name originated from the Old English pre-seventh century word "grand," which means "villager."
Historically, the Greyff surname is associated with the Clan Walter family who were prominent medieval landowners in Scotland. It is believed that the family likely descended from Walter, the leader of Clan Campbell of the Western Highlands. In addition to being prominent landowners, Clan Walter was also engaged in the wool trade.
Today, Greyff is a common last name in many English-speaking countries. It is also known to be a spelling variation of 8 other Scottish surnames, including Grifff, Griffe, Gryffe, Grige, Grye, Grytf, Gryve and Graiff.
The Greyff surname is associated with a long-standing history in Scotland and remains a popular surname in many parts of the world today. This surname can remind us of our ties to Scotland and to the many generations who had come before us to shape and form our history.
Order DNA origin analysisGreyff: Where does the name Greyff come from?
The last name Greyff is most commonly found in areas in and around Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. This is thought to be due to the distribution of the surname following several large migrations from Germanic and Dutch regions into these countries.
The Greyff surname is particularly strongly tied to Germany, as records show that a family with the surname settled in Germany in the late 1600s. Further evidence of its prevalence in German-speaking areas has been shown in near-century old documents, indicating possible ancestral origins in the region.
The Greyff name has also been documented in many Dutch provinces, indicating a wide distribution across the Netherlands. This suggests that the surname was common in the area before the 1800s, potentially stemming from a larger separation of migrates moving towards the Netherlands.
In addition to central Europe, the Greyff surname may also have spread to other countries in the region. Records suggest the name was present in Sweden and Norway during the late 1800s, and is sometimes found in Denmark as well. Greyffs have also settled further to the east, including areas of the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Ukraine.
Despite its multiple geographic locations, the last name Greyff is relatively rare today. Since its introduction to different countries, its population size has not significantly changed. As such, genealogists suggest a common origin for people who share the last name.
Variations of the surname Greyff
Greyff is a surname of Anglo-Saxon origins. The various variants and spellings for the surname Greyff include: Grayff, Greyfe, Gryfe, Greyve,Greyce,Grayce,Grieve,Graeves,Greaves,Grieves,Greufe,Greyf, Grayf, Greif, Greifs, Grieff, Griess, and Griff.
The surname Greyff is generally derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name “Greo” or its variants such as “Greop, Greow, Grep, Griep, or Grien.” It was primarily given to a son whose father held a high rank and was a well respected individual in the community.
The surname is also derived from the place names “Griff” or variants such as “Greyff, Grayff, Graff, Greip, Greaf, Grep, Graiffe, or Greif”. This type of place name was derived from a collection of elements, of which the first element was “Griotf” which essentially meant “ford” in Anglo-Saxon.
The surname Greyff was historically found in Britain, particularly in counties such as Yorkshire, Durham, and Cheshire. Notable individuals bearing the Greyff surname include actor William Greyff, US Representative John Greyff, Toronto-Dominian MP James Grayff, British diplomat Sir Robert Greyff, marble sculptor William Greyff, professional golfer Alex Greyff, and the British-born Jewish American author and screenwriter Stanley Greyff.
The various variants and spellings of the Greyff surname are important to note due to the fact that the surname has been increasingly pronounced and written in different ways overtime. Knowing the variants and spellings helps to identify the forebears of individuals, as well as to trace the lineage of the family variant of the surname.
Famous people with the name Greyff
- Ted Greyff: former Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 355 regular season and playoff NHL games with four teams, most notably the Buffalo Sabres.
- Andrew Greyff: American film and television actor and and songwriter who has had guest appearances on such shows as Chicago Hope, Scrubs, Transformers: Rescue Bots, and The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That.
- Ari Greyff: an American television director who has worked on notable television shows such as The Big Bang Theory, Famous in Love, Haven, Rumours & Boarders, and Sleepy Hollow.
- Michal Greyff: Polish graphic designer, director, and animator known for his work on Piotruś Pan, Secret of the Tomb, Step Up All In, and Mute.
- Allen Greyff: a Russian-born American artist and cartoonist who is best known for his Noah's Ark series of works which continue to be exhibited around France.
- Jennifer Greyff: a Canadian artist and entrepreneur who has worked with companies such as The Reebok Company and Indigo Books & Music, as well as orchestrated several ocean clean-up endeavors.
- Martina Greyff: a Swedish actor and stand-up comedian and the co-founder of the National Swedish Theater Playhouse and Masquerade Theater in Stockholm.
- Noah Greyff: American producer and songwriter who has produced and written songs for artists such as Pitbull, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, and Justin Bieber.
- Sonja Greyff: American chef and author of Spanish-American cuisine who has appeared on the Food Network's Cutting Edge and authored recipes in several magazines.
- Alex Greyff: Australian musician who is known for his soundscape compositions that have been used for several television programs, including The Smiths DVD.