A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Groenevelt family of France.
Reg. 5703 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
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 la fasce d'arg., acc. de trois trèfles d'un sinople plus foncé ou moins foncé que le champ. C.: un trèfle de sin., entre un vol d'arg.”
Francec. 1786
Where the Groenevelt Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Groenevelt arms are recorded
The Groenevelt arms were recorded in France, c. 1786.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 XVI of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XVI of France
1774–1791
Reigning in France when the Groenevelt 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 France.
Origin & History of the Groenevelt Family in France
The surname Groenevelt originates from the Low Countries, where it translates literally to "green field." This name was typically used as a topographic descriptor to identify families who lived near a lush meadow or a specific patch of verdant land. By the late eighteenth century, members of the family had migrated from their ancestral regions into the coastal province of Bretagne in France. Records confirm their presence in this area by 1786, likely as part of the broader movement of merchants and skilled workers traveling between the Dutch Republic and the French Atlantic ports. This transition suggests that the family maintained strong ties to trade routes and agricultural management, allowing them to establish roots in a new cultural landscape while retaining their distinct linguistic heritage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Groen en Veld
Green and field
This name
GroeneveltRefers to a person living near a verdant or grassy open field.
also spelled
van Groenevelt
van Groeneveld
Groonevelt
Groenevelt
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Nationaal Archief, Archieven van de Staten van Holland en West-Friesland
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Le Dû, Jean, Nouvel atlas linguistique de la Basse-Bretagne, 2001
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
