A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grylls family of England.
Reg. 4359 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. three bends enhanced or”
DevonTavistock · Devon, c. 1620
Where the Grylls Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Grylls arms are recorded
The Grylls arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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 Grylls 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Grylls Family in England
The surname Grylls is deeply rooted in the history of Cornwall and Devon, where the family established itself as prominent landowners and local figures by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Middle English term "grill," which was used to describe someone with a fierce, stern, or irritable temperament. By 1620, the Grylls family was well-documented in the parish records of Devon, reflecting their status as established members of the local gentry. Over the following generations, members of the family became influential in regional politics and legal affairs, often serving as mayors or local officials in towns like Helston. Their presence in the West Country remained consistent for centuries, marking them as a family deeply connected to the social and economic development of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gril
Old French word meaning cricket or a small insect.
This name
GryllsA nickname for a person with a lively or chirpy personality.
also spelled
Grylle
Grills
Grill
Related arms
Grillvariant spelling
Grills, or Gryllsvariant spelling
Charlesrecorded with Grylls, same area
Glanvillerecorded with Grylls, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Gover, J. E. B., Mawer, A., and Stenton, F. M., The Place-Names of Devon, 1931
Reaney, P. H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, PROB 11
Cornwall Archives, Parish Registers of Helston, DDP/89
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
