A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Groote family of Germany.
Reg. 0117 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
bellA call to prayer, and a warning given
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à la fasce d'or, ch. d'une coquille de sa., et acc. en chef de trois grelots rangés d'or et en p. de deux merlettes du même; aux 2 et 3 de sa. au lion d'or, cour. du même, celui du 3 cont. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º une merlette cont. d'or; l. d'or et de sa.; 2º le lion du 2, iss.; l. d'or et d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1613
Where the Groote Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Groote arms are recorded
The Groote arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1613.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit 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.
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
1612–1619
Reigning in Germany when the Groote 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Groote Family in Germany
The surname Groote originates from the Low German word for great or large, which was often used as a descriptive nickname to distinguish a person of significant stature or importance within a community. While the name is deeply rooted in Northern German and Dutch linguistic traditions, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bavaria by 1613. During this period, families with this name were often integrated into the local social fabric as landholders or skilled tradespeople. As the family moved southward into the Bavarian territories, they adapted to the local culture while maintaining their distinct identity. This migration reflects the broader movement of people across German-speaking lands during the early seventeenth century, a time when surnames were becoming increasingly fixed and inherited across generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grot
Middle Low German word meaning large or great.
This name
GrooteA descriptive nickname for a person of large physical stature or high status.
also spelled
Groote
Grote auf Poxau und Irlbah
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
bellA call to prayer, and a warning given
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
bellA call to prayer, and a warning given
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
lionCourage, strength and royalty
