Groeves History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name Groeves comes from when the family resided in or near a grove of trees. The surname is derived from the Old English word graua, the root of the modern word "grove," which described a small cluster of trees. 1

Early Origins of the Groeves family

The surname Groeves was first found in Somerset where the following were all listed 1, Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign): Hawysa atte Grove; Stephen atte Grove; and Thomas atte Grove. 2

John de la Grove was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275; Robert ate Groue in the Assize Rolls for Kent in 1317; and William Grove was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Derbyshire in 1327. 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Willelmus del Grove. 1

Early History of the Groeves family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Groeves research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1119, 1587, 1609, 1634, 1635, 1654, 1659, 1660, 1684, 1691, 1692, 1696, 1738 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Groeves History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Groeves Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Groeves has been recorded under many different variations, including Grove, Groves, Le Grove and others.

Early Notables of the Groeves family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Thomas Grove (ca. 1609-1692), from Ferne House in Wiltshire, an English politician, Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in 1654, Marlborough in 1659 and Shaftesbury in 1660; and Robert Grove (1634-1696), from London, Bishop of Chichester (1691-1696.) Henry Grove (1684-1738), was a dissenting tutor, "born at Taunton, Somersetshire, on 4 Jan. 1684. His grandfather was the ejected vicar of Pinhoe, Devonshire, whose son, a Taunton upholsterer, married a sister of John Rowe, ejected from a lectureship at Westminster Abbey; Henry...
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Groeves Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Groeves family to Ireland

Some of the Groeves family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Groeves family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Groeves or a variant listed above: Daniel Grove who settled in Barbados in 1690; Richard Grove in Virginia in 1623; William Grove in St. Christopher in 1635; John Groves settled in Bermuda in 1635.

The Groeves Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ny dessux ny dessoux
Motto Translation: Neither above nor beneath.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)