Green History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Green is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in the village greene which was the center or main square of each region. It is derived from the Old English “grene,” meaning “green,” and was most likely first borne by a family who lived in the village greene, the center or main square of a region. Alternatively, it may have been bestowed as a nickname on someone who was particularly fond of dressing in green. [1]

Early Origins of the Green family

The surname Green was first found in Kent, where the earliest record of the name was Geoffrey Greene who was recorded in a Poll Tax in 1188. As every early English village had a green, the surname Green emerged independently in many different places during the Middle Ages, thus creating several early branches of the Green family. Richard de la Grene was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1200 and Geoffrey Attegrene was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1206. [2] The prefix “atte” was a popular namesake which meant in this case “at the green.” [1]

Years later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Deonisia ate Grene and Warin de la Grene; while the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Petnis del Grene and Adam del Grene, as holding lands there at that time. [3]

Records in Scotland were very scarce, but we did find “Roger del (‘of the’) Grene in Roxburghshire [who] rendered homage in 1296 [to King Edward I of England]. Master John Grene, [was] Chancellor of Moray, 1463.” [4]

Early History of the Green family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Green research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1221, 1461, 1506, 1462, 1558, 1592, 1636, 1685, 1620, 1708, 1690, 1700, 1614, 1702, 1630, 1679, 1705 and are included under the topic Early Green History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Green Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Green were recorded, including Greene, Green, Grene, Grean and others.

Early Notables of the Green family (pre 1700)

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Thomas de Green (c.1461-1506), Lord of Greens Norton, received Boughton, Greens Norton, and large monetary grants through his inheritance upon the death of his father in 1462; Dr. John Green, the Bishop of Lincoln; Sir William Greene of Oxford, Alderman Greene of Chester; Robert Greene (1558-1592), English dramatist; John Henry Green (1636-1685), an English… 
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Green Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Green World Ranking

In the United States, the name Green is the 35^th most popular surname with an estimated 455,121 people with that name. [5] However, in Canada, the name Green is ranked the 75^thmost popular surname with an estimated 32,252 people with that name. [6] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Green is the 34^th popular surname with an estimated 618 people with that name. [7] Australia ranks Green as 39^th with 45,340 people. [8] New Zealand ranks Green as 59^th with 5,037 people. [9] The United Kingdom ranks Green as 19^th with 120,596 people. [10] South Africa ranks Green as 470^th with 15,171 people. [11]

 Migration of the Green family to Ireland

Some of the Green family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 123 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

 Green migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the “open frontiers” of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Green family emigrate to North America: 

Green Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Mr. Bartholomew Green, who arrived in Boston aboard the ship “Griffin”, bound for Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1633 [12]
• Mrs. Elizabeth Green, who arrived in Boston aboard the ship “Griffin”, bound for Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1633 [13]
• Mr. Nathaniel Green, who arrived in Boston aboard the ship “Griffin”, bound for Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1633 [13]
• Sarah Green, who arrived in Boston aboard the ship “Griffin”, bound for Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1633 [13]
• Phebe Green, who arrived in Boston aboard the ship “Griffin”, bound for Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1633 [13]
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)