A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gravis family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8539 · French, G–I
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
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.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à cinq merlettes de sa., 2, 1 et 2.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Gravis Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Gravis arms are recorded
The Gravis arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Gravis 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Gravis Family in France
The family name Gravis traces its early roots to the sun-drenched region of Languedoc in southern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were well established within the local social fabric of this historic province. During the seventeenth century, Languedoc was a center of both agricultural prosperity and intense religious change, which likely shaped the daily lives and movements of the Gravis ancestors. The name itself is thought to be rooted in the Latin word for serious or heavy, suggesting that the original bearers may have been known for their solemn character or perhaps their status as respected community figures. As the family grew, they navigated the complex political landscape of the French kingdom, maintaining their presence in the region through generations of labor and local civic participation. This early history reflects the broader experience of families in southern France who helped build the foundations of their towns while preserving their unique identity through the centuries.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 l'aigle d'or, cour. du même: au canton d'arg., ch. d'une ancre de sa. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle iss. d'or, enfilée au-dessous des ailes d'une couronne d'arg. S.: deux aigles d'or. D.: AQUILA NON CAPTAT MUSCAS.”
Britainc. 1794
Where the Gravis Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Gravis arms are recorded
The Gravis arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1794.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Britain in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in France when the Gravis arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Gravis Family in Britain
The surname Gravis has roots that reach into the rural landscapes of Kent, where records confirm the family was established by the late eighteenth century. The name itself is derived from Latin, where the word *gravis* carries meanings of weight, seriousness, or dignity. In the context of British history, families with such names often adopted them as descriptive nicknames or occupational markers during the period when surnames were becoming permanent fixtures of identity. By 1794, the Gravis family in Kent was part of a society transitioning through the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, living in a region known for its agricultural productivity and its proximity to the trade routes of the English Channel. While the name suggests a gravity of character, the family members in Kent were likely involved in the local trades or farming communities that defined the county during this era. Their presence in the parish records of this time provides a clear starting point for tracing their integration into the social fabric of southeastern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gravis
Latin term meaning heavy, serious, weighty, or burdensome.
This name
GravisA descriptive surname for a person with a serious, solemn, or dignified demeanor.
also spelled
Grave
Gravess
Gravis
Greaves
Greave
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales de l'Hérault, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
Le Roy Ladurie, Emmanuel, Les Paysans de Languedoc, 1966
Wolff, Philippe, Histoire du Languedoc, 1967
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
