Grosvenor Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grosvenor family lines. Documented in 2 countries.

Reg. 2387 · French, G–I

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion

paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence

cross symbolChristian faith and service

portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate

martletA younger son, who must win his own land

roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace

wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour

Colours

Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth

Gold (Or)Means: Generosity

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)

“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 les armes de la ville de Westminster qui sont d'azur à une herse sarasine d'or, enchainée du même; au chef d'or, ch. d'un pal d'azur surch. des armes attribuées à Edouard le Confesseur: une croix florencée cantonnée de quatre martinets et acc. en p. d'un cinquième martinet, le tout d'or; ledit pal accosté de deux roses écartelées d'arg. et de gu.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une gerbe d'or (Grosvenor). C.: un dogue arrêté d'or. S.: deux dogues reg. d'or, coll. d'azur. D.: VIRTUS NON STEMMA.”

Francec. 1621

Where the Grosvenor Arms Were Recorded

Bretagne

Map of France showing where the Grosvenor arms are recorded

The Grosvenor arms were recorded in France, c. 1621.

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.

Region: Bretagne
First recorded: 1621

Granting Authority for the Grosvenor Arms

Authority

Juge d'armes de France

1407-1789

The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.

Sovereign of the period

Louis XIII of France

1617–1643

Reigning in France when the Grosvenor 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 Grosvenor Family in France

The surname Grosvenor traces its roots to the historical region of Normandy and the broader territories of northern France. The name itself is derived from the Old French term "le gros veneur," which translates to the great hunter or the chief huntsman. This title was often bestowed upon individuals who held significant roles within the administrative or sporting households of the French nobility. By the early 17th century, members of the family were well-established in the province of Brittany. Records from 1621 confirm their presence in this region, where they lived as part of the local landed society. During this era, the family navigated the complex social structures of Brittany, often serving in local government or managing agricultural estates. Their history in France reflects a transition from holding functional titles in royal courts to becoming settled members of the provincial gentry.

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour

roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades

Colours

Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth

Gold (Or)Means: Generosity

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)

“Az. a garb or, betw. three bezants”

StaffordBushbury · Stafford, c. 1583

Where the Grosvenor Arms Were Recorded

Stafford

Map of England showing where the Grosvenor arms are recorded

The Grosvenor arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1583.

Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to 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: Stafford
Town: Bushbury
First recorded: 1583

Granting Authority for the Grosvenor Arms

Authority

College of Arms

1484-present

The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.

Sovereign of the period

Elizabeth I of England

1558–1603

Reigning in France when the Grosvenor 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 Stafford.

Origin & History of the Grosvenor Family in England

The Grosvenor family name has deep roots in the history of England, with the name itself originating from the Old French term *le gros veneur*, which translates to the great hunter. This title was originally a professional designation for the chief huntsman of a royal household, reflecting a position of high status and trust within the medieval social structure. By the late sixteenth century, members of the family were well-established in the county of Stafford, where they played active roles in local life. The family’s presence in this region by 1583 highlights their transition from their early origins into the landed gentry of the English countryside. Over the centuries, the family became deeply connected to the development of English estates and local governance, moving from their initial roles in service toward becoming prominent figures in their respective communities.

Documented Sources

J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87

Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860

Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E: Familles, seigneuries et terres, 1621

Morice, Pierre-Hyacinthe, Mémoires pour servir de preuves à l'histoire ecclésiastique et civile de Bretagne, 1742

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Register Summary

Origin: France, Bretagne
Root meaning: A high-ranking official responsible for the king's hunting dogs.
First documented: 1621
Granting authority: Juge d'armes de France
Charges (symbols): chief, pale, cross symbol, portcullis, martlet, rose, wheatsheaf
Tinctures (metals / furs): Gold, Silver
Other colours: Blue
Also spelled: Grosvenour, Grosveneur, Grovnor

BlazonEc.: aux 1 et 4 les armes de la ville de Westminster qui sont d'azur à une herse sarasine d'or, enchainée du même; au chef d'or, ch. d'un pal d'azur surch. des armes attribuées à Edouard le Confesseur: une croix florencée cantonnée de quatre martinets et acc. en p. d'un cinquième martinet, le tout d'or; ledit pal accosté de deux roses écartelées d'arg. et de gu.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une gerbe d'or (Grosvenor). C.: un dogue arrêté d'or. S.: deux dogues reg. d'or, coll. d'azur. D.: VIRTUS NON STEMMA.

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Grosvenor Coat of Arms Record & History

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Where the Grosvenor Arms Were Recorded