A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grell family of Germany.
Reg. 5471 · German, 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
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De gu. à deux fasces d'arg., acc. en chef d'une étoile d'or accostée de deux fleurs-de-lis du même, entre les fasces de trois fleurs-de-lis rangées d'or, et en p. de deux fleurs-de-lis accostées d'or. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile d'or; entre un vol, coupé alt. de gu. et d'arg.”
MecklenburgMecklenburg, c. 1777
Where the Grell Arms Were Recorded
Mecklenburg
Map of Germany showing where the Grell arms are recorded
The Grell arms were recorded in Mecklenburg, c. 1777.
Mecklenburg was farming country in the north of Germany, held by a small number of families who kept their estates for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so a great many Mecklenburg names ended up 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 Germany when the Grell 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 Mecklenburg.
Origin & History of the Grell Family in Germany
The surname Grell is deeply rooted in the northern regions of Germany, particularly within the historic state of Mecklenburg. By the late 18th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the area, often living as farmers or skilled tradespeople in rural villages. The name itself is thought to be derived from Middle Low German terms, potentially describing a person’s temperament or a specific physical trait. During the 1770s, life in Mecklenburg was defined by the rigid structures of the manorial system, where families were closely tied to the land they cultivated. As the Grell family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Baltic coast, contributing to the agricultural and local economic life that sustained the region for generations. These early ancestors likely navigated the challenges of the period through strong community bonds and a steady connection to their local parishes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grell
Derived from the Middle High German word for angry or fierce.
This name
GrellA descriptive nickname for a person with a hot-tempered or irritable personality.
also spelled
Grel
Grele
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
