A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grime family of England.
Reg. 8282 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
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)
“Az. three crosses tau or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Grime Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Grime arms are recorded
The Grime 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 Grime 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 Grime Family in England
The surname Grime is rooted in the Old Norse name Grimr, which translates to mask, helmet, or hidden one. This name was brought to England by Scandinavian settlers during the Viking Age and eventually became a common way to identify individuals in northern regions. By the year 1620, records confirm that the Grime family had established a notable presence in the city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families with this name were often involved in the local merchant guilds or skilled crafts that defined the city’s economy. Because the name was linked to the ancient Norse language, it suggests that the family’s ancestors were part of the long history of northern migration and settlement that shaped the culture of Yorkshire for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grimr
Old Norse term meaning mask, helmet, or a fierce person.
This name
GrimeA topographic name for someone living near a mask-like feature or a nickname for a fierce individual.
also spelled
Gryme
Grymes
Related arms
Græmevariant spelling
Grymevariant spelling
Grymesvariant 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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
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