A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grindal family of England.
Reg. 2769 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. a cross moline or”
YorkYork, c. 1620
Where the Grindal Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Grindal arms are recorded
The Grindal arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Grindal 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 York.
Origin & History of the Grindal Family in England
The surname Grindal is rooted in the landscape of Northern England, specifically within the historic county of Yorkshire. The name is topographical in origin, likely derived from the Old Norse words "grind," meaning a gate or a fence, and "dalr," meaning a valley. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing the name lived near a gated valley or a fenced clearing in the countryside. By the early 17th century, the family had established a clear presence in the city of York, where records from 1620 confirm their integration into the urban life of the region. During this period, the family members were part of a society transitioning through significant social and religious changes. Their long-standing connection to the area reflects a history of local craftsmanship or trade that allowed them to remain settled in the same geographic vicinity for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grind
Old English word meaning to crush or pulverize grain.
This name
GrindalA topographical name for someone who lived near a mill or a grinding stone.
also spelled
Gryndal
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
Smith, Albert Hugh, The Place-Names of the East Riding of Yorkshire and York, 1937
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
