Godric Gryffindor

Godric Gryffindor was born on a moor, a wild, windswept area of heathland that famously bred the hard and rugged people of the Scottish highlands. The West Country, where Rowling was born and grew up, also contains substantial areas of moorland, and moors are also found in mid-Wales and the north of England. True to his origin, Gryffindor praised courage, determination and strength of heart above all other qualities. He also seems to have been the most in favour of allowing muggle-borns into the school. He has only two known relics: the Sorting Hat, which produced the other known relic, his sword; both are currently kept in the office of the headmaster. This has led some to suspect that the office might have originally been Gryffindor's, and that Gryffindor was the first headmaster of Hogwarts. It has also been speculated that Godric's Hollow, home of Harry's parents, was named after Gryffindor.

Etymology
"Godric" is an Anglo-Saxon name meaning "he who rules with God" or "he who rules well." This would lend credence to the idea that Godric was the unofficial leader of the four founders and the first Hogwarts headmaster. "Gryffindor" comes from the French "Gryffon d'or" or "golden griffin," the ancient symbol of courage, echoed in lion that is the symbol of Gryffindor house. His name raises the interesting thought that Gryffindor was of both Anglo-Saxon and French heritage.