A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frain family of France.
Reg. 6793 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bullValour and generosity
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. d'arg., acc. en chef de deux têtes de boeuf d'or et en p. d'un croiss. du même.”
Francec. 1624
Where the Frain Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Frain arms are recorded
The Frain arms were recorded in France, c. 1624.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Louis XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1617–1643
Reigning in France when the Frain arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Frain Family in France
The Frain family name has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm their presence as early as 1624. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname, as the word "frain" is an old regional term associated with the ash tree or perhaps a specific type of bridle used for horses. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France were often tied to the land and local trade networks. Members of the Frain family were active participants in the social and economic life of their parishes, often serving as local officials or skilled craftsmen. As the family grew, they established themselves within the rural communities of the province, gradually building a legacy that spanned generations of agricultural and civic life in the western reaches of the country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fraxinus
Latin term for the ash tree.
This name
FrainA topographic name for someone who lived near an ash tree or a forest.
also spelled
Frai
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Poterie, Henri, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1974
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses des Côtes-d'Armor, 1992
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bullValour and generosity
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bullValour and generosity
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
