A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greet family of England.
Reg. 4512 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bordureA difference between branches of one family
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)
“Ar. a saltire engr. az. within a bordure also engr. or”
SalopSalop, c. 1620
Where the Greet Arms Were Recorded
Salop
Map of England showing where the Greet arms are recorded
The Greet arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Greet 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Greet Family in England
The family name Greet has roots that stretch deep into the English countryside, with significant historical evidence placing the family in the county of Salop, now known as Shropshire, by the year 1620. During this period, the name was likely associated with individuals who lived near a specific landmark or a small settlement, as many surnames from this era were derived from local geography or descriptive traits. In the seventeenth century, families in Salop were often deeply connected to the agricultural life of the region, and the Greet name would have been recorded in local parish registers as members of the community participated in baptisms, marriages, and burials. As the family grew and moved across the English landscape, the name persisted as a marker of their regional identity and their long-standing presence in the West Midlands. By studying these early records, we can see how the Greet family became a stable part of the rural social fabric during a time of great change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gret
Middle English term meaning large or great in size.
This name
GreetA nickname for a person of large stature or a topographic name for someone living near a large landmark.
also spelled
Grete
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Eyton, Robert William, Antiquities of Shropshire, 1854
Shropshire Archives, Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry 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.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bordureA difference between branches of one family
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bordureA difference between branches of one family
