Grieve History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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The name Grieve is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the baptismal name Reeve where as a surname it refers to son of Reeve. In Old English, patronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, after the Norman Conquest, sunu and sune, which meant son, were the most common patronymic suffixes. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word filius, which meant son. By the 14th century, the suffix son had replaced these earlier versions. Surnames that were formed with filius or son were more common in the north of England and it was here that the number of individuals without surnames was greatest at this time. The surname Grieve also referred to manager or overseer as an occupational surname.

Alternatively, the name could have originally been a Norman name descending from Walter de Grava (De la Grave) which was found in Normandy before the Conquest and still there as late as 1198. 1

Early Origins of the Grieve family

The surname Grieve was first found in Gloucestershire where Osbert de Grava or De la Grave was found in 1203. From this first entry, the Graveses of Mickleton, Gloucester, ancestors of the gallant admiral Lord Graves, and the Baronets Graves-Saule descend. 1

The source "Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum" lists Geoffrey de la Grave, Gloucestershire, (temp. Henry III-Edward I) and the "Placita de Quo Warranto" lists Sibilla de la Grave, Gloucestershire, 20 Edward I (during the 20th year of Edward I's reign.) 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included the following early listings of the family: Edith de la Grava, Oxfordshire; Henry de la Grave, Oxfordshire; Hugh de la Grave, Somerset; and John de la Grave, Wiltshire. 3

"Greaves, which is a characteristic name of the midland counties, has long been a Worcestershire name. The old family of Greves held some position in the county." 4

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed the following as holding lands there at that time: Johannes Grave; Adam Grayf; Johanna Grayf; and Robertus Grayff. 3

Early History of the Grieve family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grieve research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1600, 1602, 1604, 1605, 1607, 1608, 1612, 1652, 1669, 1673, 1676, 1677, 1680, 1715, 1729, 1784 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Grieve History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grieve Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Grieve has been spelled many different ways, including Grieves, Grieve, Greve, Greves, Greeves, Greaves, Greave, Griveson, Greaveson, Greavson and many more.

Early Notables of the Grieve family

Notables of the family at this time include Thomas Greaves (fl. 1604), English musical composer and lutenist to Sir Henry Pierrepont, belonging probably to the Derbyshire family of Greaves; Thomas Greaves (1612-1676), an English Orientalist, a contributor to the London Polyglot; John Greaves (1602-1652), an English mathematician, astronomer and antiquary, eldest son. of the Rev. John Greaves, rector of Colemore, near Alresford in Hampshire; Sir Edward Greaves, 1st Baronet (1608-1680), an English physician...
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Grieve Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grieve Ranking

In the United States, the name Grieve is the 15,188^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5 However, in New Zealand, the name Grieve is ranked the 905^th most popular surname with an estimated 813 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Grieve family to Ireland

Some of the Grieve family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grieve migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Grieves to arrive in North America:

Grieve Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Elizabeth Grieve, who arrived in America in 1774 7
Margaret Grieve, aged 42, who arrived in New York in 1775 7
Marion Grieve, aged 35, who landed in New York in 1775 7
Ann Grieve, aged 17, who landed in New York in 1775 7

Grieve Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Grieve, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 7
W Grieve, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 7
Werner Francis Herman Grieve, who landed in New York, NY in 1845 7
William Grieve, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1852 7
Frederick Grieve, who landed in Mobile County Ala in 1854 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grieve migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Grieve Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Grieve, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Mr. George Grieve, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9

Grieve migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Grieve Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. James Grieve, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "British Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 30th August 1859 10
Mr. Thomas Grieve, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "British Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 30th August 1859 10
Mr. Robert Grieve, (b. 1836), aged 28, Scottish shepherd from Ross-shire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 22nd October 1864 11
Miss Euphemia Grieve, (b. 1834), aged 33, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd January 1868 10
Mr. Robert Grieve, (b. 1836), aged 31, British shepherd travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd January 1868 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Grieve (post 1700) +

William T. Grieve, American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Westchester County 5th District, 1936 12
Robert Grieve, American politician, Representative from Ohio 8th District, 1904 12
Robert Grieve, American politician, U.S. Consul in Leith, 1833-52 12
R. R. Grieve (1919-2004), American Democratic Party politician, Broker; Lawyer; Member of Washington State Senate 34th District, 1947-74 12
Leland U. Grieve, American Republican politician, Member of Wyoming State Senate, 1950 12
George J. Grieve, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York Democratic State Committee, 1942 12
Douglas H. Grieve (1881-1951), American Republican politician, Engineer; Candidate for New York State Senate 21st District, 1928; Candidate for borough President of Bronx, New York, 1937 12
Basil Arthur Firebrace Grieve (1864-1917), English cricket player
Christopher Murray Grieve (1892-1978), birth name of Hugh MacDiarmid, an important Scottish poet of the 20th century
Robert Cuthbert Grieve VC (1889-1957), Australian Army officer, recipient of the Victoria Cross
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Grieve 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: Spes mea in Deo
Motto Translation: My hope is in God.