A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the van Grol family of Netherlands.
Reg. 3898 · Dutch, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à la croix ancrée de gu.; au 2 de gu. à trois flèches d'arg., posées en bandes.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the van Grol Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the van Grol arms are recorded
The van Grol arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the van Grol 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 van Grol 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 Netherlands.
Origin & History of the van Grol Family in Netherlands
The family name van Grol is a locative surname, which means it was originally used to identify people based on the place where they lived. The name points toward the town of Groenlo, which was historically known as Grol, located in the eastern region of the Netherlands. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, families often moved across the Dutch provinces for better work or land. By 1815, records confirm that members of the van Grol family were established in the northern province of Friesland. This migration suggests that the family had moved away from their ancestral roots in the east to settle in the northern coastal region. During this period, the formal registration of surnames became mandatory under Napoleonic law, which helped solidify the spelling and official recognition of the name as it appears in modern records.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grol
A geographical location or settlement situated in a marshy area.
This name
van GrolRefers to a person who originated from the town of Groenlo in the Netherlands.
also spelled
van Grolle
van Grollen
van Groll
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank, 2024
Nationaal Archief, Burgerlijke Stand in Nederland, 1811–1942
Van Berkel, G. and Samplonius, K., Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard, 2018
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
