A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grenell family of England.
Reg. 7568 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
Colours
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)
“Gu. three round buckles or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Grenell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Grenell arms are recorded
The Grenell 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 England when the Grenell 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 Grenell Family in England
The surname Grenell is believed to have originated as a descriptive name rooted in Old French, likely derived from the word "grenet," which refers to a small grain or seed. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing the name may have been involved in agriculture, perhaps as grain merchants or farmers who worked the land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the historic city of York, England. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, providing a stable environment for families to grow and integrate into the local community. As these early Grenells lived and worked in the shadow of the city’s ancient walls, they helped shape the local economy and contributed to the social fabric of Northern England before many of their descendants eventually looked toward the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
granum
Latin term referring to a grain or seed.
This name
GrenellAn occupational name for a grain merchant or someone who worked with corn.
also spelled
Grenell
Grenel
Grynell
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives (UK), York City Archives: Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
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buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
