A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Groot family of Netherlands.
Reg. 5441 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 sa. à trois crosses d'arg., garnies d'or, posées en pals et accostées, la crosse en bas et à dextre.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Groot Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Groot arms are recorded
The Groot arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Groot Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Groot arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Groot Family in Netherlands
The surname Groot is a classic example of a descriptive name that originated in the Low Countries, which includes the modern-day Netherlands. In the Dutch language, the word "groot" translates to "large" or "great." During the Middle Ages, people often adopted such names to distinguish themselves from others in their community, perhaps to describe a person of significant physical stature or someone who held a position of local importance. By the time official civil registration began in the early 19th century, the name was well-established across the northern provinces. Records confirm that members of the Groot family were living in the province of Friesland by 1815, a period when the Dutch government mandated that all citizens formally record their surnames for tax and military purposes. This transition from informal nicknames to permanent family names allows us to trace the lineage of these early Frisian ancestors through the standardized records of the Napoleonic era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grot
A Germanic term meaning large, great, or tall.
This name
GrootA descriptive nickname for a person of significant physical stature or high status.
also spelled
Grot
Grote
Related arms
Avenhornrecorded with Groot, same area
Beetsrecorded with Groot, same area
de Vryrecorded with Groot, same area
Klockrecorded with Groot, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens, P.J., De betekenis van Nederlandse familienamen, 1963
Tresoar (Frisian Historical and Literary Center), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registration of Friesland), 1811–1950
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
cross symbolChristian faith and service
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
