A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greenhill family of England.
Reg. 4984 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Vert two bars ar. in chief a leopard pass. or. Crest, as the last”
MiddlesexGreenhill · Middlesex, c. 1620
Where the Greenhill Arms Were Recorded
Middlesex
Map of England showing where the Greenhill arms are recorded
The Greenhill arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1620.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 Greenhill 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 Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Greenhill Family in England
The surname Greenhill is a classic example of a locative name, which means it was originally derived from the specific landscape where a family lived. In medieval England, individuals were often identified by the hills, valleys, or forests near their homes, and those residing near a prominent grassy or verdant hill became known as Greenhill. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in Middlesex, a historic county that surrounded the growing city of London. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were active in this region during a time of significant social and economic change. As the family grew, they moved through the local parishes, leaving behind traces in tax rolls and legal documents that help historians track their migration from the rural countryside into the bustling outskirts of the capital.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grene and Hyll
Old English words for grassy or verdant and a natural elevation.
This name
GreenhillA topographic name for someone who lived near a grassy or verdant hill.
also spelled
Grenehill
Grynhill
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
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, 1890
The National Archives, Middlesex 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.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
