Surname Griffel - Meaning and Origin

Griffel: What does the surname Griffel mean?

The surname Griffel is derived from an old German word meaning ‘gridiron’. This could be in reference to a family that had worked in the production of grills (gridirons) for cooking. It may also be used to describe someone who had the skills, such as a blacksmith, to make these grills.

The name Griffel could have been adopted as a nickname to describe a person who was knowledgeable in the making and care of grills. They could have also been someone that was a ‘gridiron’ specialist in times of warfare, as in the Middle Ages, when grills were used on the battlefield.

This surname is generally found around the Rhineland of Germany in the Cologne and Aachen areas, indicating its German origin. Additionally, it is believed that some of the Griffel families may actually be of Jewish descent.

The literal meaning of the surname ‘Griffel’ is ‘gridiron’ or ‘grill’, but the core meaning represents the idea of skill and craftsmanship. It is likely that the Griffel family had a long tradition of working with grills and creating them, whatever their origin. This could have been something such as a blacksmithery, where the Griffel family's skill in working with metal and grills was developed and honed over time.

Thus, the name Griffel is not only a family name, but also a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of those who bore it.

Griffel: Where does the name Griffel come from?

The last name Griffel is common mainly in Germany today. It originated in Germany, where records of the name go back to the 1500s. Records of the name continue to be found in the medieval records of Germany.

Some records indicate that the last name Griffel was used by members of the church in Karnitz, Germany during the 1500s, and many members of the Griffel family were farmers in that area. The name may have originated from a geographical feature in the area.

Recently, the last name Griffel has spread to other countries, including the United States. There are now people with the last name Griffel living in different states, including Iowa, Florida, California, New Jersey, and Michigan.

In addition, the presence of Griffel can also be seen in certain Ukrainian, Croatian, Czech, and Slovakian areas. The last name Griffel can also be found in other parts of Europe, such as France, Austria, and Hungary.

Overall, the last name Griffel is common mainly in Germany, but can also be found in other European countries as well as the United States.

Variations of the surname Griffel

The surname Griffel is of German origin and is also known by spellings such as Griffell, Griffele, Grifel, and Grifelle. It is possible that this surname has Czech, Dutch, and/or Jewish ancestry though the exact root is uncertain.

Variants of this surname include Griffitt and Griphill. In some records, the name has been recorded as Grifiles, Griffle, Griffeles, Gryfel, Gryfels, Gryfill, Gryphis, Grifflei, Grimmel, and Griepel.

There are many regional variations of this surname, and are formed primarily using the rules of Germanic naming conventions. For instance, in the Rhineland regions, the surname is typically spelled as Grifel or Griffel. However, in Northwest Germany, the name is typically spelled Grifelle.

In the Hapsburg empire, the name is often recorded as Grife, Grifele, and Grifeles. In East Prussia, it is often spelled Grifill, Griffils, or Gryphill. In some regions of Italy it is sometimes recorded as Grifilotto.

Today, Griffel remains a relatively common surname, especially amongst the German, Dutch, and French communities in the United States and Canada. Spelling variants of Griffel are also commonly seen in documentations from Europe and other parts of the world.

Famous people with the name Griffel

• Dave Griffel: American stand-up comedian and YouTube star.
• Bill Griffel: American football player who played for the Detroit Lions from 1964 to 1969.
• Allen Griffel: American ballet dancer, choreographer and instructor of the Russian Imperial Ballet School.
• Neil Griffel: American voice actor and singer best known for his work in many animated films and TV shows, including "The Lion King".
• Louis Griffel: Member of the United States Board of Tax Appeals in the 1920s and 1930s.
• Fred Griffel: American football player and coach who was a member of the Vanderbilt Commodores football coaching staff from 1937 to 1940.
• Erica Griffel: Professional ice skater, figure skater and choreographer.
• Patrick Griffel: German football manager and former player who was the manager of VFL Wolfsburg from 2001 to 2002.
• Steven Griffel: American film and television director, writer and producer.
• Lawrence Griffel: Professor of philosophy at Princeton University.
• Hazon Griffel: Jewish religious philosopher.
• June Griffel: American artist and sculptor.
• Maurice Griffel: Swiss bobsledder who competed in the 1952 and 1956 Winter Olympics.
• David Griffel: Canadian public servant who was a deputy minister in the Government of Canada from 2003 to 2008.
• Horace Clifford Griffel: British chemical engineer and professor who was the inventor of the Ruffage and Griffel Process for extracting sugar from pineapples.

Other surnames

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