A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grimshaw family of England.
Reg. 0485 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
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 griffin segreant sa. beaked and legged or”
LancasterGrimshaw · Lancaster, c. 1620
Where the Grimshaw Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Grimshaw arms are recorded
The Grimshaw arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Grimshaw 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Grimshaw Family in England
The surname Grimshaw originates from a place name in Lancashire, England, specifically derived from the Old English words "grima," meaning a specter or goblin, and "sceaga," meaning a small wood or thicket. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely identified by their residence near a wooded area thought to be haunted or secluded. By the early 17th century, the family had firmly established roots in the Lancashire region, as evidenced by records confirming their presence there by 1620. During this period, the Grimshaws were often associated with the local textile industry and land management, playing a quiet but consistent role in the development of the county’s rural communities. Their history is deeply tied to the rugged landscape of Northern England, reflecting a lineage that grew alongside the evolving social and economic structures of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grimr and sceaga
Old Norse for a mask or ghost and Old English for wood.
This name
GrimshawRefers to a dweller by a wooded area associated with a specter or a grim person.
also spelled
Grymshaw
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Place-Names of Lancashire. 1922
Farrer, William and Brownbill, John. A History of the County of Lancaster. 1911
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
