A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Granville family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à trois claricordes d'or. C.: un griffon pass. d'or, soutenu d'un chapeau de tournoi de gu., retr. d'herm.”
The Granville arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Reigning in France when the Granville arms are first recorded.
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
The family name Granville finds its roots in the historical landscape of northern France, where it is closely tied to the geography of the Normandy and Brittany regions. The name is locational in origin, meaning it was likely adopted by families living near a "grand ville" or large settlement. By the early 18th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the province of Brittany. During this period, the region was a hub of maritime activity and agricultural development, which shaped the daily lives and social standing of those bearing the name. As the family moved through these coastal territories, they became part of the local fabric of French society, navigating the complex social structures of the pre-revolutionary era. Their presence in Brittany by 1725 reflects a long-standing connection to the land and the regional traditions that defined life in western France for generations.
harpWell-tuned governance and love of musicSir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gu. three sufflues or organ rests or”
The Granville arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of 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.
Reigning in France when the Granville arms are first recorded.
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.
The Granville family name has deep roots in the landscape of Devon, where members were firmly established by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is of Norman origin, derived from the French place name Grainville, which suggests that the family’s ancestors arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. Over the following centuries, the family integrated into the local society of the West Country, becoming prominent landowners and influential figures in regional administration. By the time records confirm their presence in Devon in 1620, the Granvilles had already transitioned from their continental beginnings into a quintessential English gentry family. Their history reflects the broader movement of Norman settlers who gradually adopted English customs while maintaining a strong connection to their ancestral identity through their surname.
Large or great settlement or town.
