A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fraine family of Ireland.
Reg. 9155 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Erm. two bars gemelles gu. in chief a demi lion ramp. issuant of the last”
KilkennyKilkenny, c. 1645
Where the Fraine Arms Were Recorded
Kilkenny
Map of Ireland showing where the Fraine arms are recorded
The Fraine arms were recorded in Kilkenny, c. 1645.
Kilkenny was rich farming country in south-eastern Ireland, held by Norman families who settled early and stayed. Long holding of good land is exactly what puts a name into the heraldic records.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Fraine arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Kilkenny.
Origin & History of the Fraine Family in Ireland
The surname Fraine is deeply connected to the historical landscape of County Kilkenny, where members of the family were firmly established by the mid-seventeenth century. During this period, Ireland was undergoing significant political upheaval, and families like the Fraines were often caught in the middle of shifting land ownership and regional conflicts. The name is believed to have roots in the Old French word *fresne*, which refers to an ash tree, suggesting that the family may have originally been identified by the landscape near their home. By 1645, the Fraines were part of the local social fabric in Kilkenny, living through a time when the Irish Catholic Confederation was centered in the city. Their presence in this region during such a pivotal era indicates that they were well-integrated into the local community, likely working as farmers or tradespeople who helped shape the rural economy of the area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fraen
Old French term referring to an ash tree.
This name
FraineA topographical name for someone who lived near an ash tree or a forest.
also spelled
Frayne
Freine
Fraine
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
O’Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 1892
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Kilkenny, 1654–1656
National Library of Ireland, Genealogical Office Manuscripts, Series 1–500
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
