A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grenville family of England.
Reg. 5100 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Vert on a cross or, five torteaux”
EnglandLondon, c. 1620
Where the Grenville Arms Were Recorded
London
Map of England showing where the Grenville arms are recorded
The Grenville arms were recorded in London, c. 1620.
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 Grenville 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 Grenville Family in England
The Grenville family name traces its roots back to the period following the Norman Conquest, originating from the village of Granville in the Cotentin Peninsula of Normandy. Early members of the family were influential landowners who established themselves in England through connections to the royal court and military service. By the year 1620, the family had firmly planted roots in London, where they participated in the city's growing commercial and political life. During this era, the Grenvilles were active in the shifting social landscape of the capital, often serving in administrative roles or engaging in the mercantile ventures that defined the seventeenth century. Their presence in London during this time highlights their transition from provincial landholders to key figures within the heart of the English government and society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grainville
A place name derived from the Old French for pine tree village.
This name
GrenvilleRefers to an individual originating from the settlement of Grainville in Normandy.
also spelled
Grenvil
Grenvylle
Grynville
Granville
Related arms
Granvillevariant spelling
Brydgesrecorded with Grenville, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Round, J. Horace, Feudal England: Historical Studies on the XIth and XIIth Centuries, 1895
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I, 1620
Stenton, Frank, Anglo-Saxon England, 1943
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
