This is a locational name with a convoluted origin. It is of Lincolnshire background and derives from one of the "lost" medieval villages in the area called Grebby or Girsby, a developed form of the Old Norse-Viking "Griot-byr", the farm of Gryt. "Grebby" is recorded as "Gredbi" in the 1086 Domesday Book, and this spelling is carried forward into the original surnames, as in Margaret Greedgbe, who married John Borowdale at Lissington, Lincoln, on February 15th 1586. Margaret is also recorded as Gregbie, whilst other recordings of the same period include Richard Gregbi, who married Marie Wotherall at Kyme, on January 27th 1618. Neither the name spelling change to Grigby, nor the additive Grigsby occurred in Lincolnshire, and would seem to be southern dialectal forms whose recordings include that of Bethia Grigsby, daughter of John and Lucy Grigsby, christened at St. Sepulchre's, London, on October 19th 1741. This is believed to be the same person who on April 2nd 1732 is recorded as John Grigby, with his wife Lucey, and may well be the origination of all the Grigsby's. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Gredgbie, which was dated January 3rd 1567, a christening witness at Sutterton, Lincolnshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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