A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Groom family of England.
Reg. 7070 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
helmetWisdom and security in defence
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Erm. three piles az. each charged with a cross pattée fitchée or, on a chief gu. two helmets close ppr”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Groom Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Groom arms are recorded
The Groom arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Groom 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 England.
Origin & History of the Groom Family in England
The surname Groom originated in England as a descriptive occupational name during the Middle Ages. It was derived from the Middle English word "grom," which referred to a young man, a servant, or a shepherd. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had become a stable hereditary surname used to identify specific households. During the seventeenth century, individuals bearing this name were often involved in the local trade and agricultural life of Northern England. Because York was a major center for commerce and administration at that time, families like the Grooms were frequently recorded in parish registers and legal documents as they participated in the social and economic growth of the city. These early records suggest that the family was well-established within the local community, contributing to the daily life and labor that defined the region during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grome
Middle English term for a boy or a male servant.
This name
GroomAn occupational name for a servant, attendant, or a young man in charge of horses.
also spelled
Grome
Related arms
Gromevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York, Parish Register Transcripts
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
helmetWisdom and security in defence
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
helmetWisdom and security in defence
