A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Groen family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5210 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sin. à trois roses d'arg., bout. et barbées d'or.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Groen Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Groen arms are recorded
The Groen 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 Groen 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 Groen 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 Groen Family in Netherlands
The surname Groen is a classic example of a topographic name, which means it was originally chosen to describe the physical environment where a family lived. In the Dutch language, the word groen translates directly to green, suggesting that the first people to adopt this name likely resided near a lush meadow, a vibrant forest, or a verdant patch of land. By the time formal civil registration became mandatory in the Netherlands in 1811, the name was already well-established among families living in the northern province of Friesland. Because Friesland has a long history of unique naming customs and independent rural traditions, families there often held onto these descriptive surnames for generations. By 1815, as the region transitioned into the new Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Groen family was firmly rooted in the Frisian landscape, maintaining a connection to the land that their ancestors had identified with centuries earlier.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Groene
Middle Dutch adjective meaning green or verdant.
This name
GroenA topographic name for someone who lived near a green or grassy area.
also spelled
Groene
Groon
Related arms
Wittensame arms
Grönvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., De Nederlandse familienamen: ontstaan en betekenis, 1947
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registration of Friesland), 1811–1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
