Map of England showing where the Grannis arms are recorded
The Grannis arms were recorded in Exeter, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Grannis arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Grannis Family in England
The family name Grannis is believed to have originated in England, with historical records placing early members of the family in the city of York around 1620. During the early seventeenth century, the name was often associated with families living in the northern regions of the country. Many individuals with this surname were likely involved in the trades and local commerce that defined life in a bustling cathedral city like York. As the seventeenth century progressed, some members of the family chose to leave England to seek new opportunities in the American colonies. This migration helped establish the name in the New World, where it became rooted in the early settlements of New England. The name has remained a distinct identifier for these families as they moved across the continent over the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gran
Old French word for grain or corn.
This name
GrannisA topographical name for someone who lived near a granary or worked as a grain merchant.
also spelled
Gransone
Gransoun
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Banks, Charles Edward, The Planters of the Commonwealth: A Study of the Emigrants and Emigration in Colonial Times, 1930
Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, 1860
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
