A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greaves family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6274 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. C.: l'aigle, iss. D.: AQUILA NON CAPTAT MUSCAS.”
FranceGrand, c. 1725
Where the Greaves Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Greaves arms are recorded
The Greaves arms were recorded in Grand, 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.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Greaves 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 Greaves Family in France
The history of the Greaves family in France is deeply tied to the rugged landscape of Bretagne during the early eighteenth century. By 1725, records confirm that family members were established in this region, which was then a distinct province with its own unique customs and language. The name likely evolved as a descriptive term for people who lived near specific geographic features or worked in specialized roles related to the local economy. During this period, families in Bretagne often lived in tight-knit rural communities where they relied on maritime trade and agriculture to survive. Because Bretagne maintained a strong sense of regional identity, the Greaves family would have been part of a society that valued local traditions and deep ancestral roots in the coastal soil. Their presence in the region suggests they were integrated into the daily life of the province, navigating the social and economic shifts that defined French history before the revolution.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. on a fess az. betw three pellets, each charged with a lion's head erased of the field a griffin pass. betw. two escallops or”
WorcesterMosley Hall · Worcester, c. 1609
Where the Greaves Arms Were Recorded
Worcester
Map of England showing where the Greaves arms are recorded
The Greaves arms were recorded in Worcester, c. 1609.
Worcestershire was orchard and farming country with a scattering of old manors. Its gentry were middling rather than great, but a manor was a manor, and holding one was what brought 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 France when the Greaves 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 Worcester.
Origin & History of the Greaves Family in England
The surname Greaves is a topographic name that originated in medieval England to describe someone who lived near a grove or a wooded area. The name is derived from the Middle English word greve, which refers to a thicket or a small cluster of trees. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Worcester. Records from 1609 confirm that members of the Greaves family were living and working in this region during a time of significant social and economic change. As the family settled into urban life, they became part of the local fabric of the West Midlands. Their history reflects the common practice of families adopting surnames based on the natural features of the landscapes they inhabited before moving into growing English towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
greve
Old French term for a sandy shore or river bank.
This name
GreavesA topographic name for someone who lived near a sandy beach or river bank.
also spelled
Greeves
Greevs
Grave
Graves
Related arms
Greivesimilar arms
Gravevariant spelling
Gravesvariant spelling
Grevesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
