A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grigg family of England.
Reg. 0981 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. three lions pass. in pale az. a bordure of the last”
SuffolkBealing Parva · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Grigg Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Grigg arms are recorded
The Grigg arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Grigg 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Grigg Family in England
The surname Grigg is rooted in the medieval period and is considered a patronymic name, meaning it was originally derived from the given name Gregory. In the Old English and Middle English traditions, names were often shortened to create nicknames, and Grigg emerged as a common variation of this longer name. By the early 17th century, the family had established a clear presence in the county of Suffolk, England. Records from 1620 confirm that individuals bearing this name were living in the region during a time of significant social and agricultural change. These early ancestors were likely part of the rural working class, contributing to the local economy through farming or trade in the East Anglian countryside. As the family grew, they became a stable part of the local community, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that help historians map their movement through the English landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gregorius
Derived from the Greek word meaning to be watchful or alert.
This name
GriggA medieval diminutive form of Gregory, commonly used as a patronymic surname.
also spelled
Grygg
Gryg
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
Suffolk Archives, Bury St Edmunds Parish Registers, 1620
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
