A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grip family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2375 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
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 un griffon d'or, sans ailes. C.: le griffon, iss.”
FrieslandFriesland, c. 1815
Where the Grip Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Grip arms are recorded
The Grip arms were recorded in Friesland, c. 1815.
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 Grip 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 Grip 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 Friesland.
Origin & History of the Grip Family in Netherlands
The surname Grip has deep roots in the northern regions of the Netherlands, particularly within the province of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, the family was well-established in this area, as evidenced by official civil records from 1815. The name itself is thought to be descriptive, likely originating from a nickname that highlighted a person's physical strength or their ability to grasp objects firmly. In the Frisian language and local dialects, such names often evolved from everyday observations of a person's character or trade. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the agricultural and maritime life that defined the Frisian landscape during that era. The transition from a simple nickname to a permanent family name reflects the broader historical shift toward standardized record-keeping in the Netherlands during the Napoleonic period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gripa
Old Germanic term referring to a claw, grasp, or hook.
This name
GripA descriptive nickname for someone with a firm hold or a grasping nature.
also spelled
Grip
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand Geboorteakten (1815)
Tresoar, Frysk Histoarysk en Letterkundich Sintrum, Bevolkingsregisters van Friesland
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
