A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greenstreet family of England.
Reg. 4034 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Barry of eight ar. and az. on a canton of the second a martlet or”
KentSittingbourne · Kent, c. 1451
Where the Greenstreet Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Greenstreet arms are recorded
The Greenstreet arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1451.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of arms.
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.
Henry VI of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VI of England
1422–1461
Reigning in England when the Greenstreet 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Greenstreet Family in England
The family name Greenstreet is a topographic surname, which means it was originally given to people based on the specific location where they lived. In medieval England, a "green street" typically referred to a grassy, unpaved road or a common path that ran through a village or field. By the year 1451, records confirm that the family was well-established in the county of Kent. During this period, families often took their names from local landmarks to help distinguish themselves in growing communities. Because the name is rooted in the landscape of southeastern England, it suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or landholders who lived near a prominent green lane. Over time, the name became a permanent identifier passed down through generations, marking the family as a long-standing part of the Kentish countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grene and strate
Old English for green or grassy and a paved road or path.
This name
GreenstreetA topographic name for someone who lived near a village green or a grassy street.
also spelled
Greenstrete
Related arms
Apuldrefieldrecorded with Greenstreet, same area
Castelockrecorded with Greenstreet, same area
Castlelockrecorded with Greenstreet, same area
Gibbonsrecorded with Greenstreet, same area
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
Kent Archives, Canterbury Archdeaconry Wills, PRC 17
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
