A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grinwis family of Netherlands.
Reg. 6139 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois étoiles mal-ordonnées d'or, surmontant une terrasse en p., couverte de touffes de joncs. C.: une chapelle, entre un vol.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Grinwis Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Grinwis arms are recorded
The Grinwis arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Grinwis Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Grinwis arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Grinwis Family in Netherlands
The family name Grinwis finds its historical roots in the coastal province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that the family was well established in this region, which was known for its unique culture and distinct Frisian language. During this period, the Netherlands underwent significant changes in how surnames were recorded due to the implementation of the Napoleonic civil registry in 1811. Before this time, many families in rural areas used patronymic naming systems, where a person’s last name was based on their father’s first name. The formalization of the Grinwis name suggests that the family had reached a point of stability and social recognition that required a permanent, hereditary surname. As the family grew, members likely worked in the traditional industries of the Frisian landscape, such as agriculture, dairy farming, or maritime trade, which were the primary economic drivers of the area during the early 1800s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grin
A Germanic term related to a fierce, snarling, or angry expression.
This name
GrinwisLikely a descriptive nickname for an individual with a stern or snarling facial expression.
also spelled
Grinwiss
Grinwiz
Related arms
Mocksimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand
Fokko, Jan, Friese familienamen: Een overzicht van hun oorsprong en verspreiding, 1998
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen, 1950
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
