Godric Gryffindor is one of the four founders of Hogwarts. The Sorting Hat used to be his hat. The wizard's village Godric's Hollow was named after him.
At first the four founders worked together, bringing together young witches and wizards to teach them the magical arts. However, one founder – Salazar Slytherin – believed that only those from all-magic families should receive their education at Hogwarts. Gryffindor, along with the other two founders – Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw – welcomed Muggle-borns into the school. Eventually Gryffindor and Slytherin quarrelled over the subject, and Slytherin left the school forever.
During the song performed at the Sorting Ceremony in Harry's fourth year, the Sorting Hat reveals various facts about Godric Gryffindor, the wizard from 'wild moor'. The Hat reveals that it originally belonged to Godric Gryffindor, who volunteered it as a resolution to the problem of sorting students after the founders were gone. Gryffindor prized bravery above all else in his students.
