A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grillo family of Switzerland.
Reg. 0216 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
grasshopperNobility of birth and joy in the summer of life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un grillon de sin., posé en fasce, sur un tertre de sin., acc. en chef de deux étoiles (5) d'or. C.: le grillon. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Grillo Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Grillo arms are recorded
The Grillo arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Grillo Family in Switzerland
The surname Grillo originates from the Italian word for cricket, a name that likely began as a descriptive nickname for a person who was particularly lively, energetic, or perhaps a talented musician. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the family had established a presence in the city of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. During this period, Bâle served as a vital crossroads for trade and intellectual exchange in Europe. Families living in this region often integrated into the local merchant class or skilled craft guilds, benefiting from the city’s reputation as a center for printing and banking. While the name is deeply rooted in Mediterranean origins, the migration of the Grillo family to the Swiss borderlands reflects the broader movement of people seeking new economic opportunities in the growing urban centers of the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grillus
Latin term referring to a cricket or a grasshopper.
This name
GrilloA nickname likely given to a person who was lively, talkative, or chirpy.
also spelled
Grilloh
Grilloe
Grilo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Emidio De Felice, Dizionario dei cognomi italiani, 1978
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
grasshopperNobility of birth and joy in the summer of life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
grasshopperNobility of birth and joy in the summer of life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
