Explore the Family Name Griffon
The meaning of Griffon
1. French and Breton (mainly Finistère): from (Old) French griffon ‘gryphon’ (see Griffo), hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the mythical beast. 2. French: from the ancient Germanic personal name Grifo, a short form of names based on the element grif, from grifan ‘to seize, to grab’. 3. Altered form of Welsh Griffin. Some characteristic forenames: French Dominique, Heloise.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Griffon in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Griffon has seen a slight increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Griffon was ranked 50,178th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had climbed slightly to rank 49,914th. This represents a modest increase of 0.53 percent. The count of people with the Griffon surname also increased during this period, going up from 392 in 2000 to 420 in 2010, a rise of 7.14 percent. However, the proportion of Griffons per 100,000 population decreased by 6.67 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #50,178 | #49,914 | 0.53% |
| Count | 392 | 420 | 7.14% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.15 | 0.14 | -6.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Griffon
The Decennial U.S. Census also provides insight into the ethnicity of individuals with the Griffon surname. Between 2000 and 2010, there was a slight decrease in the percentage of Griffons identifying as White, from 83.16 percent to 76.43 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage identifying as Black rose from 15.31 to 17.14 percent. Interestingly, while no Griffons identified as Hispanic or as having two or more races in 2000, by 2010 these figures had risen to 3.10 percent and 2.62 percent respectively. There were still no Griffons identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in 2010, the same as in 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 83.16% | 76.43% | -8.09% |
| Black | 15.31% | 17.14% | 11.95% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 3.1% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 2.62% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |