Surname Grierson - Meaning and Origin
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Grierson: What does the surname Grierson mean?
The last name Grierson is of Scottish origin, derived from the village of Greiston, in Haddingtonshire. It is also derived from the feudal tenure known as Grerishon, which was held in 1150 and 1176.
Grierson is an occupational name, coming from an Old English term meaning "gradesinger," or "skilled singer of the Christian gospel." The Scottish word for this is "grersayre." The name may also be derived from the Gaelic word 'graser', meaning 'Bailiff", which was a term used to designate various officials of local courts or an individual empowered to execute legal processes.
The Grierson family later became a powerful family in Scotland, often serving as baronets, or hereditary knights. In 1684, Sir William Grierson began the long and distinguished tenure of the family when he was elevated to the Baronetcy of Lag.
Overall, the Grierson name is considered to be very noble and distinguished, often connected to the ruling class of Scotland. It speaks to the history of a family established through a strong dedication to law, justice, and education of the Christian gospel.
Order DNA origin analysisGrierson: Where does the name Grierson come from?
The last name Grierson is most commonly found in English-speaking countries today, particularly in the United Kingdom and North America. It is also found in other parts of the world such as Australia and New Zealand.
In the United Kingdom, Grierson is found in large numbers in parts of Scotland, such as Perthshire, Lanarkshire and Aberdeenshire, and in the East Midlands. It is believed to be of Scottish origin, originally derived from the Gaelic 'macGriogair', meaning 'son of Griogair'.
In North America, Grierson is mainly found in the United States and to a lesser extent in Canada. It is especially common in Pennsylvania and Ohio. It likely came to America along with English and Scotch-Irish immigrants.
Today, people with the surname Grierson are scattered all over the world. In addition to English-speaking countries, Grierson is found in countries such as India, China, South Africa, and Chile.
Although the origin of the Grierson surname is uncertain, it is likely that it has existed for centuries in many different variations, and people with the Grierson surname can trace their lineage all the way back to medieval Scotland.
Variations of the surname Grierson
The Grierson surname is of British origin and dates back to the 11th century, when it was first recorded in Scotland.It is derived from the Scottish place name Grereson,near Gretna in Dumfriesshire. Variants and spellings of the Grierson surname include Grearson, Griersoun, Giercer, Griersone, Grearsonne, Griersame, Griersam, Grearson, Griesham, Greirisone, Grawsome, Greresoun, Graronson, Garisons, Greirsoun, Gressen, Greerisoun and Greshewsoune.
Surnames of the same origin as Grierson include Grice, Gricere, Grise,Greer, Grearson, Greers, Greir,Greirs, Grierson, Griersonne, Griersome, Greirson, Gresham, Greson, Gressen,Greshon, Griceham, Griffison,Griffson, Grimeson, Grimmson and Grison.
Many of these variants and spellings share similar characteristics, such as ending in “son” or “sonne”, as “son” is a suffix of patronymic origin, which means “son of” and indicated a father-son relationship. Similarly, “soun” is a suffix of Norman origin, which indicated a relationship to the area of origin, in this case Grereson in Scotland.
Other surnames derived from geographical locations include Griersoun, which comes from Grereson on the Scottish borders, Garisons from Garrishon, Morayshire and Greshon, which is derived from the village of Greresham near Gretna, Scotland.
The Grierson surname is very common, with many variants and spellings, and is as popular today as it has been for centuries. It has spread far beyond Scotland and is now found all over the world, from Britain to North America, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
Famous people with the name Grierson
- Bruce Grierson: Canadian journalist, author, and photographer.
- Nessilcess Grierson: American rap artist.
- Pierce Grierson: American circumnavigator, troll-hunter, and scientist.
- John Grierson: British pioneer of documentary film making.
- Adam Grierson: Canadian medical doctor and scientist.
- Floyd Grierson: American professional baseball player.
- “Tiger” Grierson: Australian rugby player.
- Dwight Grierson: American football player.
- Alexander Grierson: British sculptor.
- Don Grierson: British composer and producer.
- Lucy Grierson: Canadian mathematician.
- James Grierson: Scottish boxer.
- Robyn Grierson: Australian actress.
- Wendy Grierson: American poker player.
- Faith Grierson: British actress.
- Alex Grierson: American actor.
- Samuel Grierson: British politician.
- Taylor Grierson: American watercolor artist.
- Carl Grierson: American inventor and entrepreneur.
- Cole Grierson: Canadian businessman and philanthropist.