A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Groome family of England.
Reg. 8166 · 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 meeting in base gu. on a chief indented az. two helmets close of the first”
WorcesterKimenhall · Worcester, c. 1620
Where the Groome Arms Were Recorded
Worcester
Map of England showing where the Groome arms are recorded
The Groome arms were recorded in Worcester, c. 1620.
Worcestershire was orchard and farming country with a scattering of old manors. Its gentry were middling rather than great, but a manor was a manor, and holding one was what brought 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 Groome 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 Worcester.
Origin & History of the Groome Family in England
The surname Groome originated in England as a descriptive occupational name during the Middle Ages. It was derived from the Middle English word "grome," which referred to a young man, a servant, or a person in charge of horses. By the time the family was firmly established in Worcester by 1620, the name had transitioned from a general job title to a hereditary family name passed down through generations. During this period, the city of Worcester was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, providing a stable environment for families to settle and grow. Members of the Groome family living there in the early seventeenth century were likely part of the local merchant or artisan classes who contributed to the city's development during a time of significant social and political change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grome
Middle English term for a boy or a male servant.
This name
GroomeAn occupational surname originally denoting a young man, servant, or attendant.
also spelled
Grom
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, Worcester City Records: Quarter Sessions and Parish Registers, 1620
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
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
