A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gros family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 8101 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“d'or et d'azur, à trois annelets de l'un à l'autre, 2 et 1; au 4 parti d'or et d'azur, à trois fleurs-de-lis de l'un à l'autre, 2 et 1. Cq. cour. C.: trois bâtons fleurdelisés, celui à dextre d'or, celui à sen. d'azur, celui du milieu parti d'or et d'azur.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Gros Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gros arms are recorded
The Gros arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Gros arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Gros Family in France
The surname Gros originated as a descriptive nickname in medieval France, typically used to identify a person of large stature or significant physical presence. By the seventeenth century, the name had become firmly established across various French provinces, including the coastal region of Bretagne. Records confirm that members of the Gros family were living in this area by 1663, where they often integrated into the local agricultural or artisanal communities. During this era, families in Bretagne frequently relied on parish registers to track births, marriages, and deaths, which helped solidify the name as a permanent fixture in the region. As the family grew, they contributed to the social and economic life of their villages, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and settlement that defined rural French history during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à deux chev. de sa. C.: deux prob. d'arg., celle à dextre ch. de deux barres de sa. et celle à sen. de deux bandes du même.”
GermanyRothenburg Bav, c. 1765
Where the Gros Arms Were Recorded
Rothenburg
Map of Germany showing where the Gros arms are recorded
The Gros arms were recorded in Rothenburg Bav, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in France when the Gros 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Gros Family in Germany
The surname Gros is rooted in the Middle High German word *grōz*, which translates to large, tall, or great. In medieval Germany, such names often began as nicknames used to distinguish individuals based on their physical stature or their social importance within a local community. By the time the family was documented in the historic town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in 1765, the name had long transitioned from a simple descriptor into a permanent hereditary surname. During this era, families like the Gros clan were deeply integrated into the civic life of German walled towns, often participating in the local trades, guilds, or administrative roles that defined the middle class. The presence of the family in Rothenburg suggests they were part of the stable, tax-paying population that helped maintain the town’s economy and social order during the eighteenth century. As the name spread across different German regions, it remained a testament to the family's long-standing identity as members of their local society.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Tiercé en pal: au 1 d'azur à une grue au nat.; au 2 de gu. à un ours ramp. au nat.; au 3 d'azur à une étoile d'arg.”
Spainc. 1722
Where the Gros Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Gros arms are recorded
The Gros arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
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 Spain in this period.
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1714–1724
Reigning in France when the Gros arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Spain
In Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
Granting authority
The Cronista Rey de Armas was the official body that regulated and granted coats of arms throughout Spain.
How they got arms
Families often obtained their arms through royal grants or by proving their noble status to the official heraldic authority.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the registers of the Cronista Rey de Armas starting in 1496.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Spain.
Origin & History of the Gros Family in Spain
The surname Gros carries a distinct history within the Iberian Peninsula, where it emerged as a notable name among families residing in the region of Castile by the early eighteenth century. While the name is often associated with broader European roots, its presence in Spanish records from 1722 suggests that these individuals were integrated into the social and administrative fabric of the Spanish Crown during a period of significant transition. Families bearing this name during this era were frequently documented in local parish registers and municipal tax records, which served as the primary way for the government to track citizens and their property. These early members of the Gros family likely participated in the agricultural or merchant life of the Castilian heartland, contributing to the local economy while maintaining their family identity through generations. By studying these archival traces, we can see how the name persisted as a marker of lineage in a society that placed great importance on ancestral roots and community standing.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crassus
Latin term meaning thick, fat, or dense.
This name
GrosA descriptive nickname for a person of large or stout physical build.
also spelled
Groos
Gro
Gross
Related arms
Herveysimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
