A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grein family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4918 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 trois pelles démanchées de gu. C.: une pelle de gu.; entre un vol, d'arg. et de gu.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Grein Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Grein arms are recorded
The Grein arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Grein arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Grein Family in France
The family name Grein has deep roots in the historical province of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, the region was a distinct cultural hub within the Kingdom of France, known for its strong maritime traditions and independent spirit. Families living in Bretagne at the time often worked in agriculture or local trade, contributing to the unique social fabric of the coastal villages. The name itself likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns, reflecting the way local dialects shifted over several generations. By living in this area during the mid-seventeenth century, the Grein family became part of the long history of the Breton people who navigated the challenges of rural life and changing royal policies. This early presence in Bretagne suggests that the family was well-integrated into the local community long before the major political shifts of the following century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois têtes de lion d'or, lamp. de gu. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un lion iss. et cont. d'or, cour. du même; 2° un lévrier iss. d'arg., coll. d'azur, bouclé d'arg. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1768
Where the Grein Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Grein arms are recorded
The Grein arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1768.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in France when the Grein 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Grein Family in Germany
The family name Grein finds its roots in the southern regions of Germany, particularly within the historic landscape of Bavaria. By the mid-eighteenth century, the name was firmly established in this area, as evidenced by records confirming family members living there in 1768. Linguists often link the name to Middle High German terms related to gravel or sandy soil, suggesting that the earliest ancestors may have been farmers or laborers who lived near a riverbank or a rocky creek. During this era, most people in rural Bavaria identified themselves by their trade or the specific geography of their homestead. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric of the Bavarian countryside, participating in the agricultural traditions and village life that defined the region before the industrial age. This connection to the land and the local community provided the foundation for the family identity that persisted through the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Granum
Latin term referring to a seed, grain, or small particle.
This name
GreinAn occupational surname for a merchant, dealer, or grower of grain.
also spelled
Greyn
Grine
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Cours et juridictions)
Galliou, Patrick, Le monde celtique, 1989
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
lionCourage, strength and royalty
