A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grieve family of Russia.
Reg. 3576 · Russian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. on a fess gu. betw. three fetterlocks az. a mullet or, a border of the third”
RussiaRussia, c. 1784
Where the Grieve Arms Were Recorded
Moscow
Map of Russia showing where the Grieve arms are recorded
The Grieve arms were recorded in Russia, c. 1784.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Moscow.
Moscow held the Russian court, and rank there came from service rather than land. Families who served the Tsar were entered in the registers of nobility, and that entry is where their arms are recorded.
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 Russia in this period.
Catherine II of Russia
Sovereign of the period
Catherine II of Russia
1762–1796
Reigning in Russia when the Grieve arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Russia
Russian heraldry was strictly tied to the nobility and the state service system. Families proved their ancient status or earned new rank to receive an official grant from the Tsar. These symbols were then inherited by all legitimate children of the noble line. If a family lacked proof of their status, they were often excluded from the official records entirely.
Granting authority
The Herald Master's Office acted as the central state body that strictly regulated and verified all noble heraldic symbols.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal state grant or by proving their noble status to the government authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms were officially recorded in the General Armorial of the Noble Families of the Russian Empire starting in 1797.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Russia.
Origin & History of the Grieve Family in Russia
The surname Grieve originates from the Middle English word "gereve," which historically referred to a local official, overseer, or farm bailiff. In early Scottish and Northern English society, a grieve was a person of responsibility who managed agricultural estates and supervised laborers. By the late 18th century, members of the Grieve family had expanded their reach far beyond their traditional roots in the British Isles. Records confirm that by 1784, individuals bearing the name were established in Moscow, likely participating in the growing trade networks and professional exchanges between Britain and the Russian Empire during the Enlightenment. This migration highlights the family's transition from local land management to international commerce and professional service in one of Europe’s most significant imperial capitals.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gravis
Latin term meaning heavy, serious, or grave in nature.
This name
GrieveAn occupational or descriptive surname referring to a person who held a serious or solemn demeanor.
also spelled
Greve
Greeve
Greave
Related arms
Greevevariant spelling
Greivevariant spelling
Grevevariant spelling
Balfourrecorded with Grieve, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Cross, Anthony, By the Banks of the Neva: Chapters from the Lives and Careers of the British in Eighteenth-Century Russia, 1997
The National Archives (UK), Foreign Office: Consular Correspondence, Russia, Series FO 65
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
