A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greeff family of Germany.
Reg. 1932 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 un pommier de sin., fruité d'or, passé entre deux burèles d'azur et posé sur une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: un homme iss., posé de profil, hab. d'arg., rebr. de sin., ceint du même, au rabat aussi de sin., coiffé d'un bonnet d'arg. retr. de sin., tenant de sa main dextre une branche feuillée de sin. en pal. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Greeff arms are recorded
The Greeff arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Greeff arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Greeff Family in Germany
The family name Greeff has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with historical records confirming the presence of family members in Bavaria by 1765. The name is believed to be derived from the Middle Low German word "greve," which historically served as a title for a local official or a count. Over many generations, this occupational title transitioned into a hereditary surname as families became more established within their local communities. During the eighteenth century, individuals bearing this name were often integrated into the social and economic fabric of Bavarian towns, where they participated in the local trades and agricultural life that defined the era. As the family grew and moved across borders, the spelling remained relatively consistent, serving as a linguistic link to their ancestors who held positions of local responsibility and authority in the German countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Graf
A German noble title equivalent to a count or earl.
This name
GreeffAn occupational or status-based surname referring to someone who served a count or acted like one.
also spelled
Gref
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
