A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greenwood family of England.
Reg. 2350 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
duckResourcefulness on land and water
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a fesse betw. three mullets in chief and as many ducks in base all sa”
YorkNorwich · York, c. 1594
Where the Greenwood Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Greenwood arms are recorded
The Greenwood arms were recorded in York, c. 1594.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Greenwood 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 York.
Origin & History of the Greenwood Family in England
The surname Greenwood is a locative name, meaning it was originally used to identify people who lived near a specific landmark, such as a wooded area or a clearing in a forest. By the late sixteenth century, the name was firmly established in the northern English county of Yorkshire. Records confirm that members of the family were living in the city of York by 1594, where they were likely integrated into the bustling trade and civic life of the region. During this era, surnames were becoming increasingly fixed as a way to track families for tax, legal, and parish purposes. Because the name is derived from common natural features found throughout England, it likely emerged independently in several different locations before becoming a permanent family identifier for those residing in the historic city of York.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grene and wudu
Old English words for green and wood or forest.
This name
GreenwoodA topographic name for someone who lived near a green forest or woodland.
also spelled
Greenwode
Related arms
Ashtonrecorded with Greenwood, same area
Saundersonrecorded with Greenwood, same area
Savagerecorded with Greenwood, same area
Warrenrecorded with Greenwood, 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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1594
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
duckResourcefulness on land and water
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
duckResourcefulness on land and water
