Griswold (also spelled Griswald) is a surname of English origin, from the

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

greosn (‘gravel’) and weald (‘woodland’). However, some interoperations consider Griswold to mean "Gris" meaning "Grey" and "wold" meaning wood/forest. The surname Gris is a name of ancient French origin. It was a Breton name given to a person with gray hair. The name Gris is derived from the Old French word "gris," which means "gray," and was often given to someone with gray hair. The name Wold is derived from the Old English wald meaning "forest", (cognate of German Wald, but unrelated to English "wood", which has a different origin). Wold is an Anglian form of the word, as in other parts of England, different variations can be found. Notable people with the surname include: * A. Minor Griswold (1834–1891), American humorist, journalist, and lecturer, known by his pen name The Fat Contributor * Alexander Viets Griswold (1766–1843), Protestant Episcopalian bishop and evangelist in the U.S. * Alfred Whitney Griswold (1906–1963), president of Yale University * Bill Griswold, American computer scientist * Charles L. Griswold, American philosopher *

Daniel T. Griswold Daniel "Dan" T. Griswold (born 1958) is a senior research Fellow and co-director of the Program on the American Economy and Globalization at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He was previously the president of the National Associatio ...

, director of the Cato Institute's Center for Trade Policy Studies *

Deirdre Griswold Deirdre Griswold is an American communist political activist. She is the editor of ''Workers World'', the newspaper of the Workers World Party, and former candidate for President of the United States. Griswold ran in 1980 United States presidenti ...

, American politician *

Don T. Griswold USS ''Griswold'' (DE-7) was an ''Evarts''-class short-hull destroyer escort in the service of the United States Navy, named for Ensign Don T. Griswold, who perished during the Battle of Midway 1942. Namesake Don T. Griswold, Jr. was born o ...

(1917–1943), U.S. Navy ensign * Dwight Griswold (1893–1954), American politician * Edith Julia Griswold (1863-1926), American lawyer and patent expert * Erwin Griswold (1904–1994), U.S. Solicitor General * Florence Griswold (1850–1937), founder of the "Lyme Art Colony" in Old Lyme, Connecticut * Frances Irene Burge Griswold (1826–1900), American writer *

Francis H. Griswold Francis Hopkinson Griswold (November 5, 1904 – April 11, 1989) was an American Air Force lieutenant general who was commandant of the National War College in Washington, D.C. and vice commander in chief, Strategic Air Command. Early life Grisw ...

, (1904–1989), U.S. Air Force lieutenant general * Frank Griswold (1937–2023), 25th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church *

Gaylord Griswold Gaylord Griswold (December 18, 1767 – March 1, 1809) was a United States representative from New York. Born in Windsor, Connecticut, he pursued classical studies and graduated from Yale College in 1787. He studied law and was admitted to t ...

(1767–1809), American politician *

Glenn Griswold Glenn Hasenfratz Griswold (January 20, 1890 – December 5, 1940) was an American lawyer and politician who served four terms as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1931 to 1939. Biography Born in New Haven, Missouri, Griswold attended public ...

(1890–1940), American politician * George Griswold (died 1857), American politician * Harry W. Griswold (1886–1939), American politician *

Hattie Tyng Griswold Hattie Tyng Griswold ( Tyng; January 26, 1842 – January 22, 1909) was an American author of the long nineteenth century. She wrote many stories, sketches, and poems. Born in Boston, Griswold relocated with her family to Columbus, Wisconsin, in ...

(1842-1909), American writer, poet * Hiram Griswold (1807–1881), American politician and lawyer from Ohio *

John Ashley Griswold John Ashley Griswold (November 18, 1822 – February 22, 1902) was an attorney, judge and politician from Catskill, New York. He was most notable for his service as a U.S. Representative from 1869 to 1871. Early life Griswold was born in Cair ...

(1822–1902), American politician * John Augustus Griswold (1822–1872), American politician *

Kate E. Griswold Kate E. Griswold (May 9, 1860 – October 6, 1923) was an American editor, publisher, and proprietor of ''Profitable Advertising'', a monthly trade journal for advertisers. She was "one of the most respected women in turn-of-the-century adverti ...

(c. 1869-?), American editor, publisher, proprietor * Larry Griswold (1905–1996), American gymnast * Mabel E. Griswold (1888-1955), American activist *

Mark Griswold Mark Griswold is an American engineer currently Professor at Case Western Reserve University and an Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. Education He earned his B.S in Electrical Engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana–Ch ...

, American engineer * Matthew Griswold (congressman) (1833–1919), American politician * Matthew Griswold (governor) (1714–1799), American politician *

Morley Griswold Morley Isaac Griswold (October 10, 1890 – October 3, 1951) was an American politician. He was the 16th governor of Nevada. He was a member of the Republican Party. Biography Griswold was born near Lamoille, Nevada, on October 10, 1890. He gra ...

(1890–1951), American politician * Oscar Griswold (1886–1959), American general during World War II *

Putnam Griswold Putnam Griswold (1875 – February 26, 1914) was an American opera bass singer. Biography Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1875, Griswold originally followed a business career. At the age of 22 he discovered his voice and began to study wi ...

(1875–1914), American singer * Ralph Griswold (1934–2006), American computer scientist * Robert Griswold (born 1996), American swimmer * Robert E. (Bob) Griswold (born 1935), American motivational speaker * Roger Griswold (1762–1812), American politician * Rufus Wilmot Griswold (1815–1857), American editor, critic, and anthologist * Samuel Griswold (1790–1867), American industrial pioneer *

Samuel Griswold Goodrich Samuel Griswold Goodrich (August 19, 1793 – May 9, 1860), better known under his pseudonym Peter Parley, was an American author. Biography Goodrich was born at Ridgefield, Connecticut, the son of a Congregational minister. Goodrich was la ...

(1793–1860), American author, better known under the pseudonym Peter Parley *

Stanley Griswold Stanley Griswold (November 14, 1763August 21, 1815) was a Democratic-Republican politician from Ohio. He served in the U.S. Senate. Born in Torrington, Connecticut, Griswold served in the militia during the Revolutionary War. After graduating f ...

(1763–1815), American politician * Tom Griswold (born 1953), American radio host * William Griswold (disambiguation), several people * Zona Maie Griswold (1889-1961), American singer

Fictional characters

Clark Griswold ''National Lampoon's Vacation'' film series is a comedy film series initially based on John Hughes' short story "Vacation '58" that was originally published by '' National Lampoon'' magazine. The series is distributed by Warner Bros. and consists ...

, in ''National Lampoon's Vacation'' film series * Gus Griswald, in the ''Recess'' television series

Fictional characters

References

See also