A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grantham family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8387 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Erm. a griffin segreant gu”
LincolnGoltho · Lincoln, c. 1328
Where the Grantham Arms Were Recorded
Lincoln
Map of England showing where the Grantham arms are recorded
The Grantham arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1328.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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.
Edward III of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward III of England
1327–1377
Reigning in England when the Grantham 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Grantham Family in England
The family name Grantham is a locative surname, meaning it originated from the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire, England. By the early fourteenth century, individuals bearing this name had begun to migrate from their ancestral town to the nearby city of Lincoln. Records from 1328 confirm that members of the family were established in Lincoln, where they likely integrated into the local merchant class or urban administration. During this period, surnames were becoming increasingly common as a way to identify people by their place of origin, especially as families moved away from their home villages to larger trade centers. The presence of the Grantham name in Lincoln during the medieval era suggests that the family was part of the steady movement of people toward regional hubs, where they contributed to the economic and social development of the city.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. a target betw. three antique crowns or”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Grantham Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Grantham arms are recorded
The Grantham arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in England when the Grantham arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Grantham Family in Scotland
The family name Grantham carries a distinct history that traces back to the bustling urban environment of mid-eighteenth-century Scotland. While the name itself originates from a town in Lincolnshire, England, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in Edinburgh by 1748. During this period, Edinburgh was a center of rapid intellectual and social growth known as the Scottish Enlightenment. Families moving into the city often integrated into the professional and merchant classes that supported this cultural shift. By settling in the capital, the Granthams became part of a society characterized by trade, legal reform, and the expansion of urban life. Their presence in the city during this era suggests they were likely involved in the skilled labor or commercial activities that defined the city’s development throughout the century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grand-ham
Old English words for large or gravelly and a homestead or village.
This name
GranthamRefers to a settlement located on gravelly soil or a large village.
also spelled
Granthamme
Grantam
Grauntham
Related arms
Hubertrecorded with Grantham, same area
Paynerecorded with Grantham, same area
Troutbeckrecorded with Grantham, same area
Yetsworthrecorded with Grantham, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln City Council Records, 1328
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
