Surname Greethead - Meaning and Origin
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Greethead: What does the surname Greethead mean?
The surname Greethead is derived from a place name that comes from Old English. It is thought to have been taken on by a family who originated from the township of Greethead which was located in one of the North Riding of Yorkshire in England.
The specific location of Greethead is not known; however, several locations have been suggested over the decades. One proposed location is the hamlet of Greenhead near the North Yorkshire Moors. Another possible location of origin is the nearby village of Grewelthorpe in the same region.
The surname Greethead is thought to mean “at the green head,” implying that the family who adopted it lived near a prominent green area, such as a hilltop, or were associated with a dweller in a green field. Whatever the origin, Greethead is an uncommon name today and suggests a connection to rural North Yorkshire.
It could also be a variant of Greethill or Gretel, derived from a nickname adopted by a person considered to be smart or resourceful.
Since Greethead is derived from a place name, it is somewhat rare and indicative of a family lineage from a certain place of origin.
Order DNA origin analysisGreethead: Where does the name Greethead come from?
The last name Greethead is most commonly associated with Scotland and Northern England. Records show the first mentions of the Greethead family in the 11th century in Pickering, North Yorkshire. Since then, the name has spread across England and into Scotland.
Today, searchable records show a large number of people with the last name Greethead residing mainly in Scotland. The most highly concentrated area is in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, is also home to a lot of Greetheads.
There are some mentions of the last name occurring in the United States, Australia, and Canada, though in much smaller numbers. In the U.S., there are a few mentions of Greethead in the Midwest and North Central areas, including Nebraska, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas.
No matter where the last name Greethead appears, it is always connected to Scotland and Northern England; the family heritage appears to be intertwined with the origins between those two two countries.
Variations of the surname Greethead
The surname Greethead is of British origin and can be spelled in several different ways, such as Greathead, Gretehead, Greethed, Greethood, Grethead, and Gretthead.
The Greathead spelling variant is the most popular and is thought to comes from the words 'great' and 'head' and is an English locational name derived from someone who resided in Greathead in the county of Derbyshire.
Gretehead is a variant of Greathead and is thought to be derived from the Old English Greothe and Hevede, translating to 'the Grove on the Hill.'
Greethed is an alternate spelling of Greethead. It is thought to be derived from an Old Danish name 'Gred or Grut,' which is linked to the words 'grut' or 'grud,' translating to 'ground' or 'ditch.'
Greethood is an alternate spelling of Greethead and is thought to be derived from Grede, an Old English element which means 'grand,' and 'hyde,' which means 'hide, corner, land.' Together this translates as 'ground, hide, corner, or land.'
Grethead is a variant of Greethead. It is thought to be derived from the words 'gre,' which means 'grace,' and 'theod,' which means 'race.' Together this translates as 'grace-race.'
Gretthead is another variant of Greethead and is thought to a variant of Gretehead. It is derived from the Old English Greothe and Hevede, translating to 'the Grove on the Hill.'
Famous people with the name Greethead
- Dave Greethead: Canadian Major League Baseball Player.
- Siddhartha Greethead: Actor, best known for his role in the comedy-drama film ‘Welcome to Raja-state’.
- Truman Greethead: Graphic Designer and illustrator who has work featured in the Walt Disney Animation Studios.
- Wesley Greethead: Musical Artist, composer and songwriter.
- Ethel Greethead: American Philosopher andauthor of the influential book ‘The Many Faces of Emotions’.
- Rob Greethead: American Comedian and Actor known for his role in the TV series ‘Raising Hope’.
- Joanna Greethead: British Politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons.
- Hannah Greethead: Artist and Sculptor who specializes in kinetic art.
- Gordon Greethead: Olympian and gold medalist in High Jump in 1984 Summer Olympics.
- Thomas Greethead: TV Producer, best known for his work in the BBC documentary series ‘Air Accidents Investigation Branch’.