A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grothaus family of France.
Reg. 4210 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à la bande bastillée à plomb de sa. C.: un vol de sa. [V. Grothuss.]”
Francec. 1725
Where the Grothaus Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Grothaus arms are recorded
The Grothaus arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Grothaus 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 Grothaus Family in France
The surname Grothaus originates from the Low German language, where it combines the words "grot," meaning large or great, and "haus," meaning house. Historically, this name likely served as a topographic identifier for a family that lived in a prominent or substantial dwelling within their community. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family had established a presence in the region of Bretagne in France. This movement suggests that the family may have been part of the broader migrations of people from Germanic-speaking territories into western France during the early eighteenth century. As they settled into their new environment, the family adapted to the local culture while maintaining their distinct name, which continued to reflect their ancestral roots in the Germanic lands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grot-Haus
A combination of large or great and a dwelling or house.
This name
GrothausRefers to someone who lived in a large or prominent house.
also spelled
Grothaus
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
