A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grimsditch family of Ireland.
Reg. 9694 · Irish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. a wolf pass. sa”
IrelandTarven Church, c. 1645
Where the Grimsditch Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Grimsditch arms are recorded
The Grimsditch arms were recorded in Tarven Church, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Grimsditch arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Grimsditch Family in Ireland
The surname Grimsditch is of English origin and is derived from a place name, likely referring to a ditch or earthwork associated with a person named Grim. While the name is rooted in the landscape of Cheshire, England, the family established a notable presence in Dublin by 1645. During this period, the movement of families between England and Ireland was common due to political instability and the ongoing conflicts of the seventeenth century. Members of the Grimsditch family who settled in Dublin were often involved in the administrative and commercial life of the city as it grew into a major colonial center. Over time, these individuals integrated into the local society, leaving behind records in legal documents and parish registers that track their transition from English landowners to established residents of Ireland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grimr and dic
Old Norse for mask or ghost combined with an Old English ditch.
This name
GrimsditchRefers to a person living near a ditch or trench associated with a specter.
also spelled
Grimsdich
Grymsditch
Related arms
Lodgerecorded with Grimsditch, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing. A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames. 1901
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin. 1654–1656
Representative Church Body Library, Parish Registers of Dublin City. 1640–1700
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wolfReward from long service and hard work
wolfReward from long service and hard work
