A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grothe family of Netherlands.
Reg. 2222 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à la fasce d'arg., ch. d'un trèfle de sa. Bri. de sa. et d'arg. C.: le trèfle; entre deux prob., d'arg. et de sa. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
UtrechtUtrecht, c. 1815
Where the Grothe Arms Were Recorded
Utrecht
Map of Netherlands showing where the Grothe arms are recorded
The Grothe arms were recorded in Utrecht, c. 1815.
Utrecht was an old church town with rich farming country around it. Both the church and the land produced families of standing, and families of standing kept arms to seal their documents with.
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
Utrecht
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Grothe Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Grothe arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Utrecht.
Origin & History of the Grothe Family in Netherlands
The surname Grothe has deep roots in the Low Countries, with historical records confirming that members of the family were established in the city of Utrecht by the year 1815. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Middle Low German word "grot," which translates to "large" or "great." In medieval times, such names were often used as descriptive nicknames to distinguish individuals based on their physical stature or their status within a community. As families began to settle into permanent locations during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, these descriptive names became fixed as hereditary surnames. By the early nineteenth century, the Grothe family in Utrecht was part of the growing urban population, participating in the social and economic life of a city that was transitioning into the modern era of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Groot
A Dutch adjective meaning large, big, or great.
This name
GrotheA topographic or descriptive surname referring to someone of large physical stature or a prominent person.
also spelled
Groth
Grothee
Grothea
Grot
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie, Utrechts Archief: Bevolkingsregister van de stad Utrecht, 1815
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Van der Schaar, Jo, Woordenboek van voornamen, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
