Map of England showing where the Grundy arms are recorded
The Grundy 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 Grundy 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 Grundy Family in England
The surname Grundy is believed to have originated in England as a descriptive nickname or a locational name. Many historians suggest it may have evolved from the Old Norse word "grund," which refers to a piece of ground or a field, implying that early ancestors were likely farmers or landowners who lived on a specific plot of land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Grundy family were well-established in Nottingham. During this period, families in the region were often deeply involved in the local trade and agricultural life that defined the East Midlands. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Nottinghamshire, contributing to the local community through their work and daily lives in a rapidly changing England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grund
Old Norse word meaning a piece of ground or bottom land.
This name
GrundyA topographical surname for someone who lived in a valley or on low-lying ground.
also spelled
Grundy
Grundey
Related arms
Grundievariant spelling
Gillrecorded with Grundy, same area
Massicksrecorded with Grundy, same area
Postlethwaiterecorded with Grundy, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Nottinghamshire Archives, Nottingham St Mary’s Parish Registers, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing Endell, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
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
