Grimson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Grimson was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Grimson family lived in Grymstone, Yorkshire. Grimston, however, is a fairly common place-name in England, so a given individual case may come from any of several places so named. The distinguished name Grimson is derived from the general case of the Old Norman personal name Grimr, and the Old English tun, which means settlement or town. 1

Early Origins of the Grimson family

The surname Grimson was first found in the East Riding of Yorkshire where "Sylvester de Grimston, 'Standard-bearer and Chamberlain to William I.,' of Grimston, in the parish of Garton, is claimed as the ancestor of this venerable Norman family, who have ever since the period of the Conquest resided at the place from whence the name is derived." 2

"The family of Grimston have been seated [at Garton] since the time of William I., when their ancestor Sylvester de Grimston had a grant of land from the king to be held of the honour of Roos. The church is a good structure, with a low tower; adjoining it on the north, is a mausoleum belonging to the Grimston family." 3

"Several places bear this designation [Grimston], four of them in Yorkshire, the ancient and present abode of the family." 4

Early History of the Grimson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grimson research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1508, 1569, 1600, 1603, 1611, 1626, 1629, 1640, 1643, 1648, 1656, 1660, 1683, 1685, 1700, 1756 and 1952 are included under the topic Early Grimson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grimson Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Grimston, Grimstone and others.

Early Notables of the Grimson family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Edward Grimston (ca. 1508-1600), of Rishangles, Suffolk, an English politician and Comptroller of Calais; Sir Harbottle Grimston, 1st Baronet (c. 1569-1648) an English politician, Member of Parliament for Essex (1626-1629); and his son, Sir Harbottle Grimston, 2nd Baronet (1603-1685), an English lawyer and politician, Member of Parliament for Colchester (1640-1648) and (1660-1685) and Essex (1656); and his son, Sir Samuel Grimston, 3rd Baronet (1643-1700), an English politician, the second and only...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Grimson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Grimson family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Grimson or a variant listed above: Anthony Grimston who settled in Virginia in 1635; Samuel Grimstone settled in Maryland in 1737; Thomas Grimstone settled in Virginia in 1654; John Grimstone arrived in Philadelphia in 1853..

The Grimson 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: Faitz proverount
Motto Translation: Deeds will prove.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.