A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grav family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 2090 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à cinq roses de gu., 3 et 2. C.: un vol de sa., chaque aile ch. d'une fasce aux armes de l'écu; ou (Arm. v. G.): les cinq roses, rangées en fasce, et sommées d'un vol de sa.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Grav Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Grav arms are recorded
The Grav arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Grav arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
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.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Grav Family in France
The family name Grav traces its roots to the rugged landscape of Bretagne, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, this region was a distinct province with its own cultural identity and strong ties to the sea. Families living in Bretagne at this time often relied on local agriculture or maritime trade to sustain their households. The name likely developed as a way to identify individuals based on their specific location or a notable physical trait within their local parish. As these families grew, they became woven into the social fabric of the Breton countryside, participating in the daily life and traditions of their rural communities. By settling in this area, the early members of the Grav family contributed to the long history of a region known for its resilience and unique heritage.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à trois fasces ondées d'arg. (Grave); aux 2 et 3 d'or à cinq merlettes de sa., 2, 1 et 2 (Merle). C.: une tête de géant, percée d'une lance. S.: deux paons, à tête de femme.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Grav Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Grav arms are recorded
The Grav arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Grav Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in France when the Grav arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Grav Family in Netherlands
The family name Grav has deep roots in the northern province of Friesland, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1815. In the Dutch naming tradition, surnames often evolved from nicknames, occupations, or geographic locations, and the name Grav likely stems from an old Germanic root related to a count or a local official. During the early nineteenth century, Friesland was a region defined by its distinct language and strong sense of regional identity, which influenced how families recorded their names in official civil registers. As the Netherlands moved toward standardized record-keeping under the Napoleonic influence, families like the Gravs solidified their identity within the local community. By tracing these early ancestors, we see a family that was part of the agricultural and social fabric of the Frisian landscape during a time of significant political change in the Dutch kingdom.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la bande échiq. d'or et de sa.”
SwitzerlandGenève, c. 1745
Where the Grav Arms Were Recorded
Genève
Map of Switzerland showing where the Grav arms are recorded
The Grav arms were recorded in Genève, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Grav Family in Switzerland
The family name Grav has deep roots in the city of Geneva, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1745. During the eighteenth century, Geneva was a bustling center of trade and intellectual growth, attracting families who often worked as skilled artisans or merchants. The name likely evolved from local dialects or occupational descriptions common to the region during the late medieval and early modern periods. As residents of a city known for its strict record-keeping and independent political status, the Grav family would have been integrated into the social and economic fabric of the Republic of Geneva. Over time, these early ancestors helped shape the local community by participating in the city's unique civic life and contributing to the development of the Genevan professional class.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grava
Old French term for gravel, sand, or a sandy riverbank.
This name
GravA topographic name for someone who lived near a gravelly area or a sandy riverbank.
also spelled
Graave
Graeffe
Graves
Grav
Greave
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Collection de l'état civil
Poter, Jean-Yves, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1996
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
