Surname Grigas - Meaning and Origin
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Grigas: What does the surname Grigas mean?
The last name Grigas is thought to have originated in Lithuania, a country located in the Baltic Region of Northern Europe. The literal translation of the name "Grigas" is farmer, which indicates the surname is likely derived from an occupational name for a peasant farmer or agriculturist.
In addition to Lithuania, Grigas is also a common surname in parts of Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, and Czech Republic. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was not uncommon for those of the Grigas surname to move from Central and Eastern Europe to the United States and other countries in search of work and more opportunities.
While traditional Lithuanian names usually ended with "-as", the suffix "-is" was typically added to surnames when moving to a new country. It is believed that most of the current Grigas surnames in the United States were most likely modified to end with the word "-is".
The Grigas surname may also have other variations, including Grigasz, Grigaitis, Grigalis, Grigalas, and Grigan. While the origin of the Grigas surname is linked to Lithuania, it is likely that over time, it has become a common family name in many other countries around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisGrigas: Where does the name Grigas come from?
The last name Grigas is primarily found in Eastern Europe, especially the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia). It is also very common in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. It is also found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The origin of the name "Grigas" is uncertain with a variety of theories circulating among researchers. Some believe it is derived from a Greek personal name meaning 'keen observer' while others suggest it is derived from an old Polish word for 'hurdle' or 'obstacle'.
In the 1950s, shortly after World War II, people with the last name Grigas experienced a population spike in the Nordics, primarily Sweden and Finland, as many migrated from East Europe.
In modern times, the last name Grigas is most common in Eastern European countries such as Lithuania, where 8.5 out of every 100,000 people are known to have the surname. It is also quite common in the United States, where 81 of every 100,000 Americans have the surname. In total, there are estimated to be about 25,000 Grigases living in the world today.
Variations of the surname Grigas
The surname Grigas has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Most notably, the name is often written as “Grigor” or “Grigoriou” in some parts of Europe. It may also appear as “Grygiel,” “Gruez,” “Griebel,” “Geegle," or “Griglis."
Grigas is also a common patronymic Slavic surname with many variations derived from the first name Grigory, which is derived from the Greek for “watchful.” Some of these names include Grygierz, Grygabella, Grygor, Grygorczyk, Grigórinan, and Gryber.
In other cases, the surname may be derived from the German word “grigen,” which means “concerned” or “regarded.” Variations of this include Grigel, Grieger, and Greig.
The Greek version of the surname, Grigas, is believed to be derived from the Greek word “grygos,” which means “watchful.” Variations of this include Grigoriadis, Grygos, Grigopoulou, and Grigoriou.
In some cases, the surname may be derived from the Latin word “gricus,” which translates to “gray-haired.” Variations of this include Grigore, Grigoz, Grigot, and Grigy.
Finally, the surname may also be derived from the Lithuanian word “griguti,” which means “Lithuanian” or “inhabitant of Lithuania.” Some variations of this include Grigas, Grigutis, Grigaliauskas, and Grigutavicius.
Famous people with the name Grigas
- Dainius Grigas: Former professional basketball player from Lithuania.
- Dennis Grigas: Professional ice hockey player for the Ritten Renon of the Alps Hockey League.
- Paul Grigas: Former Major League Baseball pitcher from the USA.
- Monika Grigas: American field hockey player and Olympian.
- Lukas Grigas: Lithuanian professional footballer currently playing for the Leeds United club.
- Vytautas Grigas: Lithuanian historian who is a professor and former rector of Vilnius University.
- Dalia Grigas: Lithuanian politician and professor at the International Relations and Political Science Institute of Vilnius University.
- Julius Grigas: Lithuanian basketball coach and former player.
- Marius Grigas: Lithuanian basketball scout and basketball coach.
- Lukasz Grigas: Actor from Poland known for his roles in the movies "White Wedding" and "Loving Bombs".