A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grome family of England.
Reg. 0636 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
helmetWisdom and security in defence
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, three piles gu. on a chief az. two helmets close of the first”
SuffolkRattlesden · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Grome Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Grome arms are recorded
The Grome arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Grome arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Grome Family in England
The family name Grome has deep historical roots in the English county of Suffolk, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, the name was often associated with individuals who worked in rural trades or managed agricultural estates. The term itself likely evolved from Middle English vocabulary related to a young man or a servant, which was a common way for surnames to develop during the Middle Ages. As these families settled into the landscape of East Anglia, they became part of the local community structure, often appearing in parish registers and tax documents. By remaining in the same region for generations, the Grome family helped shape the local culture and economy of Suffolk during a period of significant social change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grom
Old English or Middle English term for a man or boy.
This name
GromeA topographic or occupational name referring to a servant or a young man.
also spelled
Groom
Related arms
Groomvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
helmetWisdom and security in defence
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
helmetWisdom and security in defence
