A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greb family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5558 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un cygne d'arg., bq. et m. de gu. (ou, le cygne, posé sur une terrasse de sin.) C.: le cygne iss., le vol levé.”
NetherlandsLeyde, c. 1815
Where the Greb Arms Were Recorded
Leyde
Map of Netherlands showing where the Greb arms are recorded
The Greb arms were recorded in Leyde, c. 1815.
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
Leyde
Town
Leyde
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Greb 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 Netherlands when the Greb 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 Greb Family in Netherlands
The family name Greb has deep roots in the region of Leyde, which is known today as Leiden in the Netherlands. By the year 1815, records confirm that members of the Greb family were already established residents within this historic city. The name itself is thought to be linked to old Germanic or regional linguistic traditions, often serving as a descriptive term or a shortened form of a longer personal name common in Northern Europe. During the early nineteenth century, families in this area were frequently involved in the local trade, textile production, or administrative life that defined the city’s economy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the community through their daily work and civic participation. While the name may have evolved in spelling over many centuries, its presence in early nineteenth-century records highlights a long-standing connection to the urban development and cultural history of the Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grebbe
A watercourse, ditch, or a boundary trench used for drainage.
This name
GrebA topographic name for someone who lived near a ditch or a canal.
also spelled
Grebber
Grebere
Greb
de Greber
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Nationaal Archief, Bevolkingsregister van Leiden, 1815
Gemeentearchief Leiden, Doop-, trouw- en begraafboeken (DTB), 1815
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
