Grigg Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

This interesting name is Scottish in origin and is a diminutive form of the given name “Gregory”, which is from the Greek “Gregorios”, a derivative of “Gregorein”, to be awake or watchful. More common variations are: Greigg, Griegg, Griggy, Griggi, Grigga, Grigge, Grig, Griggo, Graigg, Grgg.

The surname Grigg first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from early times. The very first recording spelling of the family was shown to be that of Walter Greg, dated 1214,   in the “Charters of the Eaeldom of Morton”. It was during the reign of King Alexander 11, who was known as “King of Scotland” dated 1214-1249.  Surname all over the country became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation.  It came to be known as Poll Tax in England.  Surnames all over the country began to develop with unique and shocking spelling varieties of the original one.

Some of the people with the name Grigg who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included Tho Grigg, aged 16, who arrived in Virginia in 1635.  William Grigg, who landed in Virginia in 1664.  George Grigg, who landed in Maryland in 1676. People with the surname Grigg who landed in the United States in the 18th century included James Grigg, who arrived in Virginia in 1723. Some of the people with the surname Grigg who arrived in the Canada in the 18th century included Mr John Grigg U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (granted to John Grigg, Esq.).Motto—Ut prosim. Gu. a chev. betw. three griggs (or young eels) with tails in the mouth ar. Crest—A horse’s head erased ar.
2) (co. Kent). Ar. a trefoil betw. two chev. sa.
3) (Bealing Parva, co. Suffolk). Ar. three lions pass. in pale az. a bordure of the last.
4) Ar. two chev. sa. Crest—Out of a ducal coronet a dexter hand holding up a swan’s head all ppr.