A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grose family of England.
Reg. 0650 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lambGentleness, patience and faith
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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, on a mount betw. two lesser ones vert a lamb sa. holding with the dexter foot a banner erm. charged with a cross clechée gu”
SurreyRichmond · Surrey, c. 1756
Where the Grose Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Grose arms are recorded
The Grose arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1756.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in England when the Grose 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Grose Family in England
The surname Grose is rooted in the Middle English word "gros," which was commonly used as a descriptive nickname for a person of large physical stature or a thick-set build. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Surrey, where records confirm their residence by 1756. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into local community life, working in various trades that supported the growing economy of southern England. While the name likely originated as a way to identify individuals based on their appearance, it eventually became a permanent family identifier passed down through generations. The presence of the Grose family in Surrey during this period reflects the broader movement of families who settled into stable, long-term communities during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
crassus
Latin term meaning thick, fat, or dense.
This name
GroseA descriptive nickname for a person of large or stout physical stature.
also spelled
Gross
Related arms
Grossvariant spelling
Grozevariant spelling
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
Surrey History Centre, Parish registers for the county of Surrey, 1756
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lambGentleness, patience and faith
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lambGentleness, patience and faith
