A relation of Merv Griffin was a Thornton who emigrated to America. Merv has remembered this family by naming a suite in their honour. Thornton has a number of variations which include Drennan, Drinane and Dreinan. However, Meenagh and Meenaghan were also interchangeable with Thornton in counties Galway and Mayo. Families of O’Drennan also lived throughout Leinster.