A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greenacre family of England.
Reg. 2517 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. a saltire engr. or”
LancasterLancaster, c. 1620
Where the Greenacre Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Greenacre arms are recorded
The Greenacre arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Greenacre 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Greenacre Family in England
The surname Greenacre is a topographical name, which means it was originally used to describe the landscape where a person lived. It comes from the Old English words "grene," meaning green, and "acer," meaning a field or a plot of cultivated land. Families who carried this name likely resided near a specific green field or a grassy clearing in the countryside. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Greenacre family were well-established in the county of Lancaster in North West England. During this period, the family was part of the local social fabric, living in a region known for its rolling hills and agricultural traditions. As the family grew, they helped shape the identity of their local communities, leaving behind a legacy tied to the very earth and geography of the Lancashire landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grene + aecer
Old English words for green and an open field or land.
This name
GreenacreRefers to someone who lived near a grassy or verdant stretch of cultivated land.
also spelled
Greenaker
Related arms
Greenakervariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
The National Archives, Kew, Lancashire Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
