Map of England showing where the Grundmeier arms are recorded
The Grundmeier arms were recorded in Nottingham, c. 1620.
Nottinghamshire had coal under it and forest across it, and both were worth money. Families who profited bought manors, and a manor was the ordinary reason for a family to take a coat of 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Grundmeier 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 Nottingham.
Origin & History of the Grundmeier Family in England
The surname Grundmeier originates from the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it functioned as a descriptive occupational or locational name. The prefix "Grund" typically refers to low-lying land or a valley floor, while "meier" historically identified a steward, a tenant farmer, or an overseer of land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in Nottingham, England. This suggests that the family likely migrated from German-speaking regions of Europe to the English Midlands during a period of significant social and economic movement. Settling in a bustling trade center like Nottingham allowed the family to integrate into the local economy, likely transitioning from rural agricultural roles to the urban crafts and merchant activities that defined the city during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grund-meier
Ground or bottom land and a steward or tenant farmer.
This name
GrundmeierA person who managed or farmed land located in a low-lying area.
also spelled
Grundy
Grundey
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M. A Dictionary of English Surnames. 1991
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
