Griphiud is the old Welsh form of this name, “iud,” meaning chief.  We also note in 1392 Gruffydd ap Madog Vnyon.

Although there are now many families with this name the armorial bearings illustrated represent one only.  One very ancient family Griffiths derive from one of the most distinguished lines in Cambrian genealogy.

Deducing descent from no less a person than Tudor Trevor, Lord of Hereford, Bromfield, Thirk, both the Maelors and Oswestry.

The Welsh surname Griffith is patronymic in origin, belonging to that category of surnames derived from the forename of the original bearer’s father.  In this instance, the surname signifies the “son or descendant of Gruffydd”.  Noted early Welsh bearers of the name include Griffith ap (son of) Cynan who was the king of north Wales and the founder of the first Royal Tribe of Wales while Gruffydd ap Llewllyn (d. 1063) was one of the most able rulers of Wales in the Middle Ages, scoring some notable victories over the English until he was eventually defeated by King Harold in 1063.  Other early Welsh references include one Blethin ab Gryffydd who appears in the Subsidy Rolls of 1295 while Gruffydd ap Madag Dynon is recorded in the extent The Extent of Chirkland in 1392.  June Gryffydd is listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1524 while John ap Griffith, of Bangor is listed in the Bills ab Chester in 1585.  Edward ap Griffith, of Halewood is recorded in the same records in 1581.  Records relating to the arrival of bearers of the name to the “New World” include one Owen Griffith who settled in Virginia in 1666 while in Gillen’s, “Founders of Australia” one John Griffiths (1758-1844) is recorded.  He served at Port Jackson in the company of Captain James Meredith, arriving in New South Wales on board the “Friendship”.  He was sent to Norfolk Island in 1789 where he held nearly one hundred acres of land.

BLAZON OF ARMS:  Gules, three lioncels passant in pale argent armed azure.
  Translation:  Gules (red) signifies Military Fortitude and Magnanimity. Argent (white) denotes Peace and Sincerity. Azure (blue) signifies Truth and Loyalty.

CREST:  A lion passant sable.

MOTTO:  Le bon temps viendra
  Translation:  The good times will come.

ORIGIN:  WALES

The following was taken from Genforum, posted by R.J. Griffiths on Jan. 4, 2006:

The surname of GRIFFITHS was a name which was derived from the Old Welsh personal name 'griph-ind' meaning a chief. They are believed to be directly descended from Griffith ap Cynan, King of North Wales, and founder of the first Royal Tribe of Wales. Griffith ap Cynan was the eldest son of Rhodri Mawr, the first recorded King of Wales. His family settled on lands and estates on the border of England and Wales in the district known as Chirk, about the year 1200. Early records of the name also mention Gryffyd Ap Madogvon 1392,Wales. One branch of the family,headed by John Griffith moved west to Carnarvon and acquired an estate at Bangor. Another branch moved to the central Welsh county of Cardigan where another John maintained a family seat at Llwynduris in the early middle ages. the most distinguished branch of the family settled in Montgomery County where they presided over large tracts of lands and whose royal members included, the Lord of Bromfield, the Prince of Powys-Fadoc, and Tudor ap Griffit Baptised, John, son of Gryffyn Hall at St. Jame's, Clerkenwell, London in the year 1564. Fraunes Griffith was baptised at the same church in 1584. The name is also spelt Griffin and Griffiths. Most of the European surnames in countries such as England, Scotland and France were formed in the 13th & 14th centuries. The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884.
ARMS-Gules three lioncels passant in pale argent armed azure
CREST-A bucks head cabossed per pale or and argent
MOTTO- A FINE ( From the end )
The song playing is the Welsh National Anthem. 
Here are the lyrics:

"Hen Wlad fy Nhadau"
(Land Of My Fathers)

The land of my fathers is dear unto me
The land of the poets, the land of the free
Her patriots and heroes, her warriors so brave
For freedom their life's blood they gave.
Wales! Wales!
Pledged am I to Wales
Whilst seas surround
This land so proud
Oh, long may our old tongue remain.
Location of Wales
Location of Brynmawr, Wales
Hometown of Margaret and son, John
My great-grandmother
Margaret Evans Griffiths
Immigrated from Wales to America in 1884
Special thanks to Tonya Rogers for taking the time
to help with our research
My grandfather
John Lewis Griffiths
followed in 1887
at the age of 17
Lifestream
By Max Griffith

Caught in the current of time
as a leaf in a river gone wild
With no choice but to be carried
from the scenes we knew as a child.

Strange how each moment’s passing
makes those times now seem so dear.
Strange why some memories leave us
while others continue quite clear.

Memories of loved ones we left there,
how we’d love to see them once more.
Just one more chance to touch them
ere time again closes its door.

As a sad and weary traveler
grows ill for the sight of home.
Longing so much to return there
but it’s onward we’re borne on the foam

Ahead lies a road we’ve not traveled.
And what we know not, we fear.
We wonder how far it will take us -
will we still be on it next year

So flows this lifestream we live in
its’ current carries us fast to the fate.
We know that awaits us
Where we’ll find still water at last.