Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
If we do not hit our goal we will be forced to close the site.

Current status: https://keepboardsalive.com/

Annual subs are best for most impact. If you are still undecided on going Ad Free - you can also donate using the Paypal Donate option. All contribution helps. Thank you.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.

What's the surname "Griffin" as Gaeilge?

  • 13-04-2009 12:40AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,945 ✭✭✭


    For years, I always thought my surname was O'Griofa or O'Griobhtha but lately I've been told by my teacher it's O'Grifín which I don't really like cos it sounds a bit anglicized for my liking.

    Any one know?

    Cheers! :)


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 151 ✭✭enfeild


    In Irish Placenames Griffin takes the following shapes;
    Criomhthann, Ghrífín, Ghrífín, Grifín, Mhic-Grifín, Uí Chriomhthain, Chriomhthain, Uí Ghrifin. Its quite a common name in Townland names.
    Regards.
    Tom.
    * *


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 942 ✭✭✭An gal gréine


    In "Irish Names and Placenames" by Pádraig de Bhulbh (Kilmallock, 1906) he has the following for Griffin:
    Ó Gríobhtha - Munster and Connacht.
    Ó Gríbhthín - Kerry, west Limerick and west Cork.
    Ó Gríobhtháin -Tipperary.
    Mac Criomhtháin -Carlow and Wexford.
    Ó Grialluis - Galway and parts of Mayo.

    Mag Niallghuis - Spoken language is the only authority for the name in this case. "The spelling therefore may not be etymologically correct".


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 27,418 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Mac Lysaght ('The Surnames of Ireland', 1957) says Ó Gríobhtha, from gríobhtha meaning griffin-like.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,463 ✭✭✭✭rainbowtrout


    A friend of mine is Griffin and used O'Griofa as the Irish version


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 39 Badhbh


    I have Griffin relatives. In Connamara it's written as
    "Ó Gríofa" (modern spelling)


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 151 ✭✭enfeild


    The above names of Griffin is from the book 'The Anglicized words of Irish Placenames' by Tom Burnell.
    Regards.
    Tom


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40 mairtinomarta


    Badhbh wrote: »
    I have Griffin relatives. In Connamara it's written as
    "Ó Gríofa" (modern spelling)

    This is correct. It's "Ó Gríofa" for the lads, "Ní Ghríofa" for the daughters and "Bean Uí Ghríofa" for the wife!


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 8,313 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jonathan


    Mac Criomhtháin -Carlow and Wexford.
    Are you sure about that?

    That is McCrohan in Irish.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 151 ✭✭enfeild


    McCrohan is also found in Ballymacraheen in Cork where the Irish is given as Baile Mac Criothain.
    Regards.
    Tom


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 942 ✭✭✭An gal gréine


    I double-checked it and that's what he has. So I checked his entry for McCrohan and there is only one, Mac Cruacháin. There is a more modern book called "An Sloinnteoir Gaeilge agus an t-Ainmneoir" published by Coiscéim which has only one entry for McCrohan and its Mac Criomhthainn ( you'll note there's no fada on the 'a' )
    There may be some relation between the Griffins and the Crohans because if you silence the 'fs' in Griffin and do the same with Mac Criomthainn ( the 'mth' does have an 'f' sound in places) it then sounds very similar to Crohan.


  • Advertisement
  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 8,313 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jonathan


    There is a more modern book called "An Sloinnteoir Gaeilge agus an t-Ainmneoir" published by Coiscéim which has only one entry for McCrohan and its Mac Criomhthainn ( you'll note there's no fada on the 'a' )
    Spot on.

    That's my surname. and the Irish is correct.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1 Trendygal123


    For years, I always thought my surname was O'Griofa or O'Griobhtha but lately I've been told by my teacher it's O'Grifín which I don't really like cos it sounds a bit anglicized for my liking.

    Any one know?

    Cheers! :)





    no its actually none of the above!:P Itas Nì Griofa! The reason i know is im training in school(which is an irish one) and my name is C. Griffin so i am known as Ms. Nì Griofa!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    A friend of mine is Griffin and used O'Griofa as the Irish version

    O'Griofa is the english version of Ó Gríofa.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,463 ✭✭✭✭rainbowtrout


    no its actually none of the above!:P Itas Nì Griofa! The reason i know is im training in school(which is an irish one) and my name is C. Griffin so i am known as Ms. Nì Griofa!


    But isn't Ni/Nic used for females and O/Mac used for males? So wouldn't it be

    Maire Ni Griofa and Sean O'Griofa?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 942 ✭✭✭An gal gréine


    But isn't Ni/Nic used for females and O/Mac used for males? So wouldn't it be

    Maire Ni Griofa and Sean O'Griofa?


    Máire Ní Ghríofa and Seán Ó Gríofa


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,463 ✭✭✭✭rainbowtrout


    Máire Ní Ghríofa and Seán Ó Gríofa

    Oh ya, forgot the h


Advertisement