Coat of Arms & Family Crests Store
  Greaves Coat of Arms / Greaves Family CrestThe surname of GREAVES was derived from the Old English word Graefe, a name meaning the dweller by the brushwood or thicket, from residence nearby. Local surnames, by far the largest group, derived from a place name where the man held land or from the place from which he had come, or where he actually lived. These local surnames were originally preceded by a preposition such as "de", "atte", "by" or "in". The names may derive from a manor held, from working in a religious dwelling or from literally living by a wood or marsh or by a stream. Following the Crusades in Europe a need was felt for a family name. This was recognized by those of noble blood, who realised the prestige and practical advantage it would add to their status. Early records mention Geoffrey de la Greue who was documented in the year 1203 in the County of Leicestershire. Edward Greeves of County Somerset, appears during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377) and Richard de Greves of Yorkshire was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. A later instance of the name mentions Mary Greaves who was baptised St. Dionis Backchurch, London in the year 1610. During the Middle Ages, when people were unable to read or write, signs were needed for all visual identification. For several centuries city streets in Britain were filled with signs of all kinds, public houses, tradesmen and even private householders found them necessary. This was an age when there were no numbered houses, and an address was a descriptive phrase that made use of a convenient landmark. At this time, coats of arms came into being, for the practical reason that men went into battle heavily armed and were difficult to recognise. It became the custom for them to adorn their helmets with distinctive crests, and to paint their shields with animals and the like. Coats of arms accompanied the development of surnames, becoming hereditary in the same way. The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. Registered at Beeley and Stanton, County Derbyshire, and Mayfield, County Stafford, during the reign of Henry III (1216-1272). |
Orders over $90 qualify for Free Shipping within the U.S. |
