Welcome to the Griffin Family page at Surname Finder, a service of Genealogy Today. Our editors have compiled this checklist of genealogical resources, combining links to commercial databases along with user-contributed information and web sites for the Griffin surname. As additional sources for vital records, original documents, vintage photographs and surname-based DNA projects are discovered, this page is updated to offer the best list for researching Griffin ancestry. Share this page on Twitter!
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The Griffin Family Tree
It is important to remember that there is no single Griffin family tree, as last names were assigned to people for various reasons. We are often asked, Where do I go to find birth, marriage, and death records for Griffin family members? and you might be surprised at the answer.
Best Tree Collections for Discovering Griffin Ancestors
Griffin Genealogy
Sometimes two people can look at the same handwritten record, and come up with different spellings of the name. Be creative when searching for your Griffin ancestors -- we often search for misspellings intentionally to see if we missed any records. If you want to know Why can't I find Griffin my ancestor in the SSDI?, then read this frequently asked question.
Top Five Genealogy Databases to Search for Griffin
Vital records are essential for family history research because they were typically created at or near the time of the event, making the record more reliable.
There are currently matching Griffin records at Ancestry.com!
Start exploring this online Griffin family history resource today.
Death Records
Military Records
Origins of the Griffin Surname
It is quite possible for two people with the Griffin last name to have been given that surname for entirely different reasons. Discovering the country from which your Griffin ancestors originated can often yield additional clues for the meaning of the surname. Were you aware that Griffin is a common Irish surname? The article "The Luck of the Irish Research" may be helpful for your research. Keep in mind that it was not unusual for a last name to be altered as an ancestor entered a new country.
Griffin DNA Projects
Don't believe the hype! When DNA testing was first made available for genealogical purposes, some companies boasted how it could solve all your Griffin family tree mysteries. DNA testing can be a useful tool, when applied properly to a given research issue. If you're not sure how DNA testing could aid your Griffin research, read "When do you use DNA?".
Griffin Family History
There is more to exploring your Griffin ancestry than just gathering a bunch of names and dates. Understanding where your ancestors lived, how they were employed, and what they did for fun, may give you a better appreciation of your heritage. Whether you are a beginner or expert genealogists, knowing Where can I find prisoner information for my Griffin black sheep ancestors? is always useful.
Photo Collections
Networking with Griffin Researchers
In the course of genealogy research, collaboration is key -- we really cannot do it alone, and one of the great benefits of participating in community message boards is building relationships that not only enlightens our research but strengthens bonds across the miles. The article "Looking for John Smith - Focusing a Query" provides some valuable tips for posting successful Griffin queries.
You may also want to consider posting a query to the Community Message Boards at Genealogy Today to get assistance from other researchers on your most elusive Griffin ancestors.
Griffin Achievements & Celebrities
Did you know that Griffin was the 98th most popular surname in the 1990 census of the United States?
Web Sites & Blogs with Griffin Research
If you are having difficulty locating records for the last name of Griffin, contact the folks at ProGenealogists for a free research estimate. You may also find it helpful to read, "When, Why and How to Hire a Professional Genealogist."
RootsWeb search of US Naturalization Records
RootsWeb search of Obituary Daily Times
RootsWeb search of Social Security Death Index
To recommend your web site/blog for inclusion on this page, please submit a link to the user-contributed directory at Genealogy Today. Your web page may appear once its content has been reviewed by our editors.
Upcoming Griffin Family Reunions
Pedigree charts and family group records are important genealogical tools, so bringing or creating on site a big family pedigree (or family tree) is sure to draw attention; at the same time, have plenty of blank family group sheets available for individual families to complete and submit to go into a "Griffin family record book," which you can then digitize and share -- you can then bring the physical book back to the next reunion, adding new families each time. The article "Planning Details For A Family Reunion" may provide you with tips for hosting a successful Griffin reunion.
See Also
Grifin Griffen Griffina Griffi McGriffin
Surname Finder, The Griffin Genealogy and Family Tree Page [on-line resource], New Providence, NJ, USA: Genealogy Today LLC, 2023.