A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grev family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5602 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 la croix d'arg.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Grev Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Grev arms are recorded
The Grev arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Grev Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Grev arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Grev Family in Netherlands
The surname Grev has deep roots in the coastal region of Friesland, where family members were documented as early as 1815. In the Frisian language and surrounding dialects, the name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname linked to local social structures. During the early 19th century, Friesland was a place of significant transition as the region moved from the influence of the Napoleonic era toward the formation of the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families like the Grevs were often part of the hardworking agrarian or maritime communities that defined the Frisian landscape. Because the region maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity, the name Grev reflects the unique naming traditions of the northern Netherlands, where surnames were often tied to specific local occupations or personal traits that helped distinguish individuals within their tight-knit village societies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Graaf
A noble title equivalent to a count or earl.
This name
GrevAn occupational or status-based surname referring to someone associated with a count.
also spelled
Greeve
Grev
Grieve
Greave
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (1811–1950)
Ypema, Y., De Friese bevolking in de 19e eeuw, 1975
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
