History of your Surname
Get access to Griffen family records.Start a free trial

Griffen Family History

Griffen Name Meaning

Irish (Cork): variant of Griffin .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Giffen, Griffin, Griffing, Griffel, Graffeo, Griffey, Grieff, Risden

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Griffen family from?

You can see how Griffen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Griffen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Griffen families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 77 Griffen families living in Ontario. This was about 56% of all the recorded Griffen's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Griffen families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Griffen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Griffen ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Farmer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Griffen. 43% of Griffen men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Griffen women worked as a Farmer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Griffen were Engineer and Student. .

View Census Data for Griffen | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    43%
  • Labourer
    25%
  • Cultivateur
    10%
  • Engineer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    34%
  • Clerk
    34%
  • Student
    34%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Griffen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 67,000 census records available for the last name Griffen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Griffen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Griffen

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Griffen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Griffen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Griffen. For the veterans among your Griffen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Griffen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Griffen family history

Discover More

What is the average Griffen lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Griffen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Griffen in 1956 was 42, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Griffen

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Griffen family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Griffen last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial