Grissom History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Grissom has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in the village of Gresham in the county of Norfolk.

Early Origins of the Grissom family

The surname Grissom was first found in Norfolk at Gresham, a parish, in the union of Erpingham, hundred of North Erpingham. “Gresham gave name to the family of which Sir Thomas [Gresham] (c. 1519-1579), the founder of the Royal Exchange and of Gresham College, was a member.” [1] The same Sir Thomas is again mentioned in the same source in Battisford, Suffolk. “The framework of the late Royal Exchange, London, erected by Sir Thomas Gresham, was made here; Sir Thomas residing in the adjoining parish of Kingshall, and having considerable property in this.” [1] Another family seat was found at Barnby-Upon-Don in the West Riding of Yorkshire. “The church [of Barnby-Upon-Don] is a well-built structure of very ancient date, with a chancel the property of the Gresham family, which contains some handsome monuments to their ancestors and others.” [1]

Early History of the Grissom family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grissom research.

Grissom Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Grissom have been found, including Gresham, Gressam and others.

Early Notables of the Grissom family (pre 1700)

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir John Gresham (1495-1556), an English merchant, courtier and financier who worked for King Henry VIII of England, Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell, Lord Mayor of London and founded Gresham’s School, Holt, Norfolk; Sir Richard Gresham (c.1485-1549), an English mercer, Merchant Adventurer, Lord Mayor of London, and Member of Parliament who was descended from an ancient family which long resided in the village.

Grissom Ranking

In the United States, the name Grissom is the 2,557^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. [2]

 Grissom migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Grissom, or a variant listed above: 

Grissom Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Thomas Grissom, who arrived in New Haven, Connecticut in 1646 [3]

Grissom Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• James Grissom, aged 39, arrived in New York City in 1919 aboard the ship “Colon” from Cristobal, Canal Zone [4]
• Lorie B. Grissom, aged 26, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship “Bayway” from Savona, Italy [5]
• Roy Jack Grissom, aged 29, arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship “Essequibo” from Valparaiso, Chile [6]
• Ana or Ava Maria Grissom, aged 23, arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship “Essequibo” from Valparaiso, Chile [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Grissom (post 1700) +

• Lieutenant Colonel (USAF) Virgil Ivan “Gus” Grissom (1926-1967), one of the original seven American Mercury astronauts and the command pilot in the Apollo 1 capsule fire on January 27, 1967 [8]
• Janet Gardner Mullins Grissom (1949-2023), American lobbyist who worked in the United States Department of State, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell’s first Chief of Staff
• Lauren Blair Grissom (b. 1985), American beauty queen, Miss Tennessee USA for 2006
• Barry Ray Grissom (b. 1954), American attorney who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Kansas from 2010 to 2016
• Marquis Deon Grissom (b. 1967), American former Major League Baseball player
• Steven Paul ‘Steve” Grissom (b. 1963), American NASCAR Busch Series driver and the 1993 Busch Series champion
• David Grissom, American session guitarist, best known for his work with John Mellencamp
• Marvin Edward “Marv” Grissom (1918-2005), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played 356 games in Major League Baseball
• Lee Theo Grissom (1907-1998), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball between 1934 and 1941
• Pamela L. Grissom, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Arizona, 2012 [9]