A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greves family of England.
Reg. 5984 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
leafHappiness and abundance
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Per chev. ar. and gu. three fig leaves counterchanged”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Greves Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Greves arms are recorded
The Greves 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 Greves 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 Greves Family in England
The surname Greves is rooted in the occupational history of medieval England, where it originally served as a title for a local official or a steward. In the northern regions, a "greve" was a person appointed to manage land or oversee the collection of taxes on behalf of a lord. By the time the family was firmly established in York during the year 1620, the name had transitioned from a job title into a fixed hereditary surname. Living in a major city like York suggests that these early family members were likely involved in the vibrant trade and civic life that defined the region during the seventeenth century. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the local economy and the historical development of the city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grava
A Germanic or Old French term referring to a grove or thicket.
This name
GrevesA topographic name for someone who lived near a grove or wooded area.
also spelled
Grieves
Greaves
Greeve
Related arms
Greavesvariant spelling
Greevevariant spelling
Grevis, or Grevesvariant spelling
Grievesvariant spelling
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, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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
leafHappiness and abundance
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
leafHappiness and abundance
