A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greff family of Germany.
Reg. 2943 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un pommier de sin., fruité d'or, passé entre deux burèles d'azur et posé sur une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: un homme iss., posé de profil, hab. d'arg., rebr. de sin., ceint du même, au rabat aussi de sin., coiffé d'un bonnet d'arg. retr. de sin., tenant de sa main dextre une branche feuillée de sin. en pal. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Greff Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Greff arms are recorded
The Greff arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Greff arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Greff Family in Germany
The family name Greff has deep roots in the southern German region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. The name likely originated as a descriptive occupational surname, as the word "Greff" is an archaic variation of "Greve" or "Graf." In the medieval period, this term referred to a local official, such as a steward or a magistrate, who held administrative authority over a specific village or district. Families carrying this name were often part of the rural middle class, working as land managers or local representatives for regional lords. By the mid-18th century, the Greff family had become well-integrated into the social fabric of Bavarian village life, where they likely maintained records of land ownership and local governance. Their presence in this region reflects the broader history of German families who moved from holding official titles to becoming settled landowners and community leaders.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Graf
A German noble title equivalent to a count or earl.
This name
GreffAn occupational or status-based name referring to someone who served a count or acted like one.
also spelled
Gref
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
