A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greenway family of England.
Reg. 4482 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 fess or, on a chief of the last three birds vert, legged of the first, a border gobony ar. and sa”
OxfordRaynefords House · Oxford, c. 1574
Where the Greenway Arms Were Recorded
Oxford
Map of England showing where the Greenway arms are recorded
The Greenway arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1574.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Greenway 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Greenway Family in England
The surname Greenway is a classic example of a locative name, which means it was originally chosen to describe the physical environment where a family lived. In Middle English, the term green way referred to a grassy path or a road that was not paved with stone. Families who adopted this name likely lived near a prominent meadow track or a lane bordered by lush vegetation. By the time records place the family in Oxford in 1574, the name had already become a stable identifier passed down through generations. During this period, the Greenways were part of a growing class of English citizens who were becoming more established in urban centers like Oxford. Their presence in the city suggests they were likely involved in the local trades or academic life that defined the region during the late sixteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grene weg
Old English terms for green and path or road.
This name
GreenwayA topographic name for someone who lived near a grassy track or unpaved road.
also spelled
Greenwey
Related arms
Greenawayvariant spelling
Beringerrecorded with Greenway, same area
Brahamrecorded with Greenway, same area
Brownerecorded with Greenway, same area
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Oxfordshire Archives, Oxford City Council Records: Records of the Freemen of the City of Oxford, 1574
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
