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Griffen Family History

Griffen Surname Meaning

Irish (Cork): variant of Griffin.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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 1891 there were 202 Griffen families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Griffen's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Griffen families in 1891.
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.
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What did your Griffen ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Griffen. 20% of Griffen men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Griffen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Griffen were Plasterer and Private Means.

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 1939

  • General Labourer
    20%
  • Incapacitated
    10%
  • Builders Labourer
    8%
  • Plasterer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%

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 UK 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 the UK, 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

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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

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Griffen ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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