Grigsby
A surname of uncertain but likely English locational origin, probably from a place-name ending in -by.
The #3,141 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 26,845 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is usually treated as a locational name, with the ending -by pointing to an Old Norse place-name element meaning “farm,” “settlement,” or “village.” The first element is less certain; older writers connect it with forms such as Grigg or Grig, but the exact place or original personal name behind it is not firmly established. In short, the name most likely meant “Grigg’s settlement” or something close to that.
History
The name appears in English surname collections alongside other -by names, which fits a medieval origin from a place-name rather than from an occupation or nickname. Later spellings such as Grigsby and related forms like Greagsby reflect normal variation in pre-standardized English record-keeping. The surname is now found especially in English-speaking countries, including the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The Barber surname dictionaries group Grigsby with a cluster of surnames that look locational, especially those ending in -by or -well, which is a useful clue to its likely English place-name background.
From the historical record
“Grix Grigsby. See Greagsby Grigson. See Grigg Grimble. N. Grimbald (stern fierce, and bold); A.S. Grim beald ; Fr. Grimoult ; p.n. Grimditch. A loc. n.”
— British Family Names: their origin and meaning (2nd ed.)