Grindlay Single Name Study

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Welcome to the Grindlay Single Name Study Project. The aim of this project is to collate and document the application of the name Grindlay and subsequent variants throughout the world. To date this site provides access to a comprehensive global database; coat of arms; document archive and research forum. The database is compiled from primary and secondary sources and is an on-going project maintained and co-ordinated by the volunteer Project Administrator. The document archive was introduced in 2008; it contains certificates, newspaper items and random paperwork associated with the surname Grindlay/Grindley and its various lineages.

UPDATE: 2009 - Due to unforseen health complications, the Project Administrator is taking an enforced sabbatical. The good news is that the Grindlay Single Name Study website shall remain online, albeit in a sleeping capacity. The surname database will continue to receive occasional updates although public submissions and the onsite forum have been temporarily suspended; note that a new page has been added providing alternative links for the Message Board, so that contact amongst researchers may continue. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience but trust visitors will appreciate the circumstances. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2010. Till then, take care and please continue to enjoy this website and all it has to offer. Posted by Administration Team, November 2008

Origin: Anglo-Saxon; the surname Grindlay comes from the Old English words 'grene' and 'leah' which meant both the colour green and a section of village land that was open to free grazing. The term 'grene' was also applied to the young denoting youth and vigour. There are those who claim the proper spelling is 'ley' however, the earliest recording of the name to date suggests that the name originated in Scotland. In Scotland, it is predominately spelt with an ending of 'lay'. Note that it was (and to some degree still is) common for the the spelling to be alternated within a single lifespan. For this reason, the project has adopted the 'lay' spelling for the purpose of convenience. Individuals appearing in the single name study database, who have at some point been listed under an alternative spelling, have the spelling variations listed in brackets.