A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greathead family of England.
Reg. 5199 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
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 martlet gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Greathead Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Greathead arms are recorded
The Greathead arms were recorded in England, 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 Greathead 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 Greathead Family in England
The surname Greathead is a descriptive name that originated in medieval England as a nickname for a person with a large head or perhaps someone considered wise and intelligent. During the early seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in the city of York, where records confirm their residence by 1620. At that time, York was a major northern hub for trade and administration, and families like the Greatheads were often involved in the local merchant guilds or civic life. Because surnames were still evolving during the Middle Ages, the name likely emerged independently in different regions before becoming a fixed family identity. By the time the family appeared in York, they were part of a long tradition of English families who carried names derived from physical traits or personal characteristics.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Great Head
Old English words for large and the upper part of the body.
This name
GreatheadA descriptive nickname for a person with a large head or a person of great intelligence.
also spelled
Greated
Greathed
Related arms
Greatheedvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
