A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grimberg family of France.
Reg. 8482 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“d'or à la fasce d'azur, ch. de deux étoiles du champ; au 2 d'azur à un canon sur son affût d'or, adextré d'une pile de trois boulets du même.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Grimberg Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Grimberg arms are recorded
The Grimberg arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Grimberg arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Grimberg Family in France
The family name Grimberg carries a history rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern Europe, where it likely originated as a descriptive name. The name is composed of two distinct elements, with the first part often linked to the Old Norse word for a mask or a protective spirit, and the second part referring to a fortified hill or mountain. By the early eighteenth century, members of the family had established a presence in the region of Bretagne in France. During this period, families often moved across borders due to trade routes, military service, or shifting agricultural opportunities. The arrival of the Grimberg name in Bretagne suggests that the family was part of a broader movement of people who brought their northern naming traditions into the cultural landscape of western France. As they settled into this new environment, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind records that track their integration into the community by the year 1725.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grim-Berg
Derived from Germanic elements meaning mask or helmet and mountain or hill.
This name
GrimbergRefers to a person who lived near a mountain or hill associated with a fortress.
also spelled
Grimberghen
Grimberg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
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
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
