A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Groenewald family of Germany.
Reg. 8354 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'or à deux arbres de sin., terrassés du même; à la fasce d'arg., ch. de trois roses de gu. et br. sur le tout. Cq. cour. C.: un arbre de sin., entre un vol d'or, chaque aile ch. de la fasce de l'écu. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Groenewald arms are recorded
The Groenewald arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Groenewald 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Groenewald Family in Germany
The surname Groenewald originates from the Germanic linguistic tradition, combining the roots for green and forest. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent wooded area or managed forest lands in the Saxony region. By 1765, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this territory, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire. During this period, the family likely participated in the agricultural or artisanal life common to the Saxon landscape. As the name spread, it became a marker of those who held a deep connection to the local environment and the rural geography of central Germany. Over time, the family identity grew alongside the changing political borders of the region, reflecting a long history of settlement in the heart of Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grünwald
Green forest or verdant woodland area.
This name
GroenewaldRefers to a person who lived near or worked in a green forest.
also spelled
Gruenewald
Grunewalt
Grunewaldt
Grunevald
Greenevald
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1882
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv. Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
