A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greenaway family of England.
Reg. 4011 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 chev. betw. three covered cups or, on a chief ar. three griffins' heads erased az. beaked gold”
GloucesterBarrington Grove · Gloucester, c. 1620
Where the Greenaway Arms Were Recorded
Gloucester
Map of England showing where the Greenaway arms are recorded
The Greenaway arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
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 Greenaway 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 Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Greenaway Family in England
The surname Greenaway 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 "weg," meaning path or road. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family likely resided near a grassy track or a common lane in the English countryside. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Greenaway family were well-established in the city of Gloucester. During this period, the family was part of a growing movement of English settlers who were deeply involved in the social and economic life of the region. As they moved through the seventeenth century, the family name became a permanent fixture in local parish registers, reflecting their role as active participants in the development of their community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grene weg
Old English for green path or grassy way.
This name
GreenawayA topographic name for someone who lived near a grassy lane or common path.
also spelled
Greenway
Related arms
Greenwayvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Gloucestershire Archives, Records of the Diocese of Gloucester: Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
