Surname Grindal - Meaning and Origin
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Grindal: What does the surname Grindal mean?
The surname Grindal is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is thought to have originally derived from the places called "Grendel" or "Grindal" in Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire and Westmorland.
The name Grindal is believed to have derived from the old English word 'grendel', meaning ‘fine valley' or 'deep valley'. It is thought the place name referred to areas of either rocky valleys or lush green landscapes which were known for their abundance of wildlife.
The earliest records of the name Grindal date back to 1086, when the first known instance was recorded in the Domesday Book of that year. Later records show that Stephen de Grindhale was listed in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1202, whilst a Hugh de Grindale appears in the records of Durham in 1251.
Those bearing the Grindal surname are thought to have been farmers, hill farmers, or labourers. It is thought that they lived and worked the lands of their lord in exchange for some tenancy and a small wage.
The Grindal surname may also have derived from an Old English personal name, such as Grendel Maurice, which could have been corrupted over time.
Today, the surname Grindal continues to be found in its original locations of Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire and Westmorland, as well as being popular throughout England more widely.
Order DNA origin analysisGrindal: Where does the name Grindal come from?
The last name Grindal is more commonly found in the United Kingdom and the United States. In the United Kingdom, the name is predominantly in the northern and central parts of England, with a few scattered around in Scotland and Wales. This is reflected in the 1881 Census, where the majority of Grindal’s lived in Lancashire and Yorkshire.
In the United States, Grindal is found primarily in Pennsylvania and on the east coast. The largest number of Grindal families lived in Pennsylvania in 1880. The families were very likely Scots-Irish immigrants who came over to America in the 1700s and 1800s. Grindal's can also be found in Virginia, and other states west of the Appalachian Mountains.
Though concentrated mainly in these two areas, the last name is found in other parts of the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Canada.
Overall, the last name Grindal has a long history and is still a popular surname today.
Variations of the surname Grindal
The surname Grindal is a common English surname. It is an occupational name derived from the Middle English “grindal”, the nickname for a grinder of metal. There are several variants, spellings, and surnames derived from the same origin.
Variants of the name "Grindal" include Grindel, Grindle, Grindell, Grindall, and Grinall. These are all derived from the same origin, but their spellings may differ slightly. In some cases, the surname may be spelled with two "l’s" instead of one, such as Grindell, or with an extra "a" such as Grindala.
It is also possible for the double “l” in the name to appear at the end of the name, in which case it would be spelled Grindle or Grindal. Variants of this spelling include Grindell and Grindall, both of which are derived from the same root word.
The surname Grindal may also have been corrupted over time in some cases, such as with the variant Grinall. This variant has been known as both Grinall andGrindall in some documents.
Surnames derived from the same root word as Grindal include Grindel, Grindle, Grindell, Grindal, Grindala, and Grinall. These variations all have the same origin, but they may vary in spelling by letter or word. They may also have been corrupted over time or changed by a change in spelling conventions.
Famous people with the name Grindal
- Kristiina Grindal, American middle-distance runner
- Cameron Grindal, American professional tennis player
- Ellen Grindal, Norwegian-American immigrant who wrote a memoir describing her immigration experience
- Lars Grindal, Norwegian contemporary classical composer and musician
- Robert Grindal, Norwegian politician
- Joseph Grindal, American educator and professor
- Einar Grindal, Norwegian geologist and geophysicist
- Edvard Grindal, Norwegian sculptor
- Magnus Grindal, Swedish politician and foreign trade official
- Karl Grindal, Norwegian biblical scholar and professor