A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grène family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2175 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
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. au chev. d'arg., acc. de trois épis d'or.”
NivernaisNivernais, c. 1663
Where the Grène Arms Were Recorded
Nivernais
Map of France showing where the Grène arms are recorded
The Grène arms were recorded in Nivernais, c. 1663.
Nivernais was central French country of woods, ironworks and river trade. Its landed families were modest but numerous, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Grène 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 Nivernais.
Origin & History of the Grène Family in France
The family name Grène traces its historical roots to the Nivernais region of central France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, this area was characterized by a mix of agricultural life and the growing influence of the local nobility, which shaped the daily experiences of families living in the countryside. The name likely evolved from regional dialects or descriptive terms used to identify individuals based on their occupation or physical traits within their small village communities. As the family established itself in the Nivernais, they became part of the social fabric of the province, navigating the economic shifts and local administrative changes that defined life under the French monarchy. By maintaining their presence in this specific geographic area, the early Grène family helped build the local history that eventually connected their lineage to the broader development of the French heartland.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. fretty az. on each joint a bezant, on a chief gu. a buck trippant betw. two mullets or, pierced”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Grène Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Grène arms are recorded
The Grène arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Grène 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 England.
Origin & History of the Grène Family in England
The family name Grène, often recorded as Green or Greene in early English documents, carries roots that reflect the linguistic shifts of the seventeenth century. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, placing the family at the center of a bustling urban society. Families with this name were often associated with the local merchant classes or skilled trades, which allowed them to integrate into the social fabric of the city. As the name evolved from its descriptive origins into a formal surname, it became a common fixture in parish registers and legal documents throughout Northern England. This transition highlights how a simple label for a person living near a village green or common land eventually became a permanent family identity passed down through generations in the shadow of York Minster.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Granum
Latin term referring to a grain, seed, or kernel.
This name
GrèneA topographic or occupational name for someone who lived near or worked with grain.
also spelled
Green
Greene
Grenay
Related arms
Greenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Nièvre, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Gautier, Henri, Histoire du Nivernais, 1905
Martinet, André, Les familles de la province de Nivernais sous l'Ancien Régime, 1922
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
