A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grindall family of England.
Reg. 4401 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, a cross quarterly erm. and az., in the 1st and 4th quarters a dove az. collared ar.; in the 2nd and 3rd, a dove of the last collared of the third”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Grindall Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Grindall arms are recorded
The Grindall 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 Grindall 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 Grindall Family in England
The surname Grindall is rooted in the landscape of Northern England, specifically within the historic county of Yorkshire. The name is locational in origin, meaning it was likely adopted by families who lived near a specific place called Grindale, a small village located near Bridlington. During the medieval period, people often took the name of their home village as a way to identify themselves when they moved to larger towns or cities. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Grindall family were well-established in the city of York. At this time, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families like the Grindalls were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the administrative life of the city. Over the centuries, the name evolved through various spellings in parish registers and legal documents, reflecting the way names were written down based on how they sounded to local clerks.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grind
To crush or pulverize grain using a millstone.
This name
GrindallA topographical name for someone who lived near a mill or a grinding place.
also spelled
Gryndall
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
cross symbolChristian faith and service
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
