Surname Grimessey - Meaning and Origin
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Grimessey: What does the surname Grimessey mean?
The last name Grimessey is thought to be of Irish origin, likely originating from the Gaelic “McGrimeisigh”. This name is derived from the Irish word “MacGrímeisigh”, which roughly translates to “son of Grímeisigh”, an old Irish name.
The name Grímeisigh itself is thought to come from the Gaelic word “gríos” meaning “love”, along with the suffix “aigh” which translates to “one who”. Therefore, it can be assumed that the full name indicates “one who loves”.
The Grimessey surname was pervasive in 11th century Ireland and you can often find records of the name used in ancient Irish texts. It's believed that the surnames Grímeisigh and Grimsale (or Grimsay, Grimssey) are two variations of the same name.
The Grimessey name is commonly found in Ireland and the United Kindom today. It can also be found across areas that had popular Irish emigration during the 19th century such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisGrimessey: Where does the name Grimessey come from?
The last name Grimessey is largely found in the United States and England. In the US, the highest density of Grimessey’s can be found in the state of Massachusetts. Over 20,000 individuals bearing this name reside within the boundaries of the Bay State. The historical roots of the Grimessey family first arrived in Massachusetts with the early colonists from Europe in the 1700s. The states of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio also house large populations of Grimesseys.
England is home to a more evenly distributed group of Grimesseys, although there is slightly higher concentration in the counties of Cumberland and Northumberland. There are also several Grimesseys in nearby Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Grimesseys have also been identified in other commonwealth countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In recent years, the Grimessey family has seen an increase in population in the United States as a result of immigration. Migration of Grimesseys throughout the country has increased their presence in the West Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Grimesseys can also be found in a number of other countries, including France, South Africa, and South Korea.
Variations of the surname Grimessey
The surname Grimessey is an anglicised form of the surname “Ó Gríomasaigh” (Grimace/Grimes) which originated in County Tipperary, Ireland. As with most surnames, there are various variants, spellings, and iterations over time, due to the combination of common usage and changing phonetics.
One variant of the name is Gríomasaigh, the Irish form of the original “Ó Gríomasaigh”. Some spellings, however, have seen a more drastic change from the original Gaelic spelling. 'Grimsy' and 'Grimsay' have emerged as common orthographical deviations of the name, as has the alternate pronunciation 'Grimesay'.
In addition, many surnames of the same origin have become established over the years. 'Grimes', 'Grims', and 'Grimm' are amongst the most commonly used spellings, as well as 'Grimshaw' and 'Grimsley'. The creation of these surnames is presumed to follow a similar process of apocope - a literary device which involves the shortening of a word by omitting one of the central syllables.
In Scotland, 'Graimes' was utilised. However, several further surname variants have emerged. 'Grames', 'Gramms', 'Gramesay', 'Graigmse', 'Gramsay' and 'Gramsey' have all been found in records. The same is true of 'Grimeson', 'Gramson', and 'Grimsone', all of which are believed to have been derived from 'Gríomasaigh'.
The list of surnames, variants, and spellings of the same origin for the surname Grimessey could go on and on. The most important point to note, however, is that each of the names mentioned all derive from, and ultimately belong to, the same source.
Famous people with the name Grimessey
- Eric Grimessey: American football player who played for the Indianapolis Colts from 1969-1975.
- Lily Grimessey: English actress most famous for her roles in Woody Allen's films Hannah and Her Sisters and Crimes and Misdemeanors.
- Webster Grimessey: American writer and author of the book "History of American Chess".
- Thomas Grimessey: British engineering entrepreneur, founder of the company GEC (now known as Airbus).
- Garry Grimessey: Australian media personality and reality TV show contestant who starred on The Bachelor Australia in 2018.
- Alexander Grimessey: American politician and member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina.
- Ashley Grimessey: Canadian writer of horror, suspense, fantasy and science fiction novels.
- Chad Grimessey: American rock and country musician known for his hit song "The Outsider".
- Amelia Grimessey: British artist best known for her large scale, brightly colored abstracts inspired by nature and its beauty.
- Stephen Grimessey: British film director and producer who's most well-known for the dramas Swimming in the Deep and Laos.