Map of France showing where the Grissom arms are recorded
The Grissom arms were recorded in Maine, c. 1663.
Maine was quiet farming country in western France, held in small manors by families who stayed for generations. Nothing about it was grand, but steady landholding is exactly what puts a name in the registers.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Grissom arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Maine.
Origin & History of the Grissom Family in France
The surname Grissom is a variation of the English name Gresham, which originally described a person who lived near a grassy enclosure or a pasture. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family had crossed the Atlantic to establish roots in the American colonies. Historical records confirm that individuals bearing this name were present in the coastal region of Maine by 1663. During this period, these early settlers were likely involved in the rugged work of fishing, timber harvesting, or farming to survive in the harsh northern climate. As they integrated into the developing colonial society, the spelling of the name often shifted to reflect local pronunciations and the limited literacy of the era. This transition helped the family name evolve into its current form while the descendants moved throughout the expanding frontier of North America.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gris
Old French term for the color gray or a gray-haired person.
This name
GrissomDerived from a topographic location or nickname referring to someone with gray hair.
also spelled
Grison
Grysson
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Banks, Charles Edward. History of York, Maine. 1931
Maine State Archives. Province and Court Records of Maine. 1928
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
