A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Groat family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9302 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à un cheval pass. de sa., bridé de gu.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à l'aigle de gu., cour., bq. et m. du champ. Cq. cour. C.: une queue de paon au nat.; ou, un panache de plumes de coq de bruyère de sa. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sa., à sen. d'or et de gu. S.: deux licornes reg. d'arg. (ou de sa.)”
GermanyHan, c. 1689
Where the Groat Arms Were Recorded
Han
Map of Germany showing where the Groat arms are recorded
The Groat arms were recorded in Han, c. 1689.
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 Germany in this period.
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
1658–1705
Reigning in Germany when the Groat arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Groat Family in Germany
The family name Groat has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname. In Middle Low German, the term "grot" meant large or great, and it was often used to distinguish a person of significant stature or a prominent member of a local community. By 1689, records confirm that members of the family were established in the town of Han, located in the historical region of Hesse. During this period, families in small German towns were often tied closely to the land and the local church, which served as the primary center for keeping birth and marriage records. As the family moved through these rural landscapes, the name evolved from a simple descriptor into a formal surname that was passed down through generations. This transition reflects the broader movement of families across the German states as they sought stability and community during the late seventeenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
foxWit and wisdom in defence
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un renard au nat., courant entre trois arbres de sin. sur une terrasse du même. Cq. cour. C.: un arbre de sin. L. d'arg. et de sin.”
LivoniaLivonia, c. 1775
Where the Groat Arms Were Recorded
Map of Poland showing where the Groat arms are recorded
The Groat arms were recorded in Livonia, c. 1775.
Livonia was Baltic country held by a small number of landed families who kept their estates for centuries. Land there passed down whole rather than being divided, and long unbroken tenure is what fills a register.
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
Livonia
First recorded
1775
Granting Authority for the Groat Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in Germany when the Groat arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Livonia.
Origin & History of the Groat Family in Poland
The history of the Groat family name in the Baltic region is deeply tied to the shifting borders and cultural exchanges of the eighteenth century. While the name itself has roots in Germanic and Northern European linguistic traditions, its presence in Livonia by 1775 places the family within a unique historical crossroads. During this era, Livonia was part of the Russian Empire, but it maintained a strong social structure influenced by Baltic German landowners and local traditions. Families like the Groats often served as administrators, merchants, or skilled tradespeople who moved across these territories to support the growing economy of the Baltic ports. As the family established roots in this area, they lived through a time of rapid transition where the influence of Polish, German, and Russian cultures overlapped. This environment encouraged families to adapt their names and identities to fit the local administrative systems, which explains how the name persisted through the complex social hierarchies of the late 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grot
Middle Low German term for large or great.
This name
GroatA nickname for a person of large stature or significant importance.
also spelled
Groote
Grot
Groat
Groot
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg, Kirchenbücher der Pfarrei Han (1689)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
horseReadiness to serve king and country
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
horseReadiness to serve king and country
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
foxWit and wisdom in defence
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
