Map of France showing where the Frank arms are recorded
The Frank arms were recorded in Strasbourg, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Frank 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 Frank Family in France
The name Frank carries a deep connection to the historical identity of the Frankish people who shaped the foundations of France. While the name itself is rooted in the ancient Germanic tribes that moved across Europe, its presence in the Alsace region highlights the complex cultural shifts of the seventeenth century. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were living in Strasbourg, a city that served as a vital crossroads between French and German influences. During this era, Strasbourg was a place where families often navigated changing borders and shifting political loyalties. The family likely lived through the transition of Alsace into the Kingdom of France, which was finalized during the reign of Louis XIV. Living in such a strategic city suggests that the family was part of a vibrant urban community that valued trade, craftsmanship, and local governance. Their presence in the region during this time reflects the broader movement of families who helped define the social fabric of eastern France as it became more integrated into the French state.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
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'or à un homme iss., posé de front, mouv. de la p., hab. d'azur, ceint d'or, au rabat du même, coiffé d'un chapeau d'azur, tenant de sa main dextre une grappe de raisins au nat. et de sa sen. une pignate d'arg. C.: l'homme iss., tenant la pignate de sa main dextre et la grappe de sa sen.; entre deux prob., coupées d'or sur azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Frank arms are recorded
The Frank arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in France when the Frank arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Frank Family in Germany
The surname Frank has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it originally served as a descriptive term rather than a formal family name. In the medieval period, the name was often used to identify someone who belonged to the Frankish tribes or to distinguish a person who was considered a free man rather than a serf. By the time members of the family were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had become a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. During this era, families in the Bavarian region were often tied to the land and local trade guilds, which helped solidify the name within specific villages and parishes. As the population grew, the name Frank became a common way to track lineage in local church registries and tax records, reflecting the transition from a simple label of origin to a permanent family identity.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Per saltire az. and vert on a saltire indented or, a falcon ppr. belled gold”
YorkCampsal · York, c. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Frank arms are recorded
The Frank arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Frank arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of York.
Origin & History of the Frank Family in England
The surname Frank emerged in England as a descriptive name rooted in the Old French word *franc*, which originally meant free or exempt from servitude. During the medieval period, this name was often used to distinguish individuals who held their land freely or who belonged to the Frankish people. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had become a well-established hereditary surname. In the social landscape of seventeenth-century York, families bearing this name were often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes. They lived during a time of significant transition in Northern England, where the name served as a link to both the linguistic influence of the Norman Conquest and the evolving social structures of the early modern era. These early residents of York helped anchor the family name in the region, contributing to the local civic and economic life of the city as it grew into a major northern hub.
Frank Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Francus
A member of the Germanic tribe known as the Franks.
This name
FrankRefers to a person who is free, specifically one not held in servitude.
also spelled
Franck
Franke
Franque
Francke
Related arms
Francvariant spelling
Franckvariant spelling
Francqvariant spelling
Franquévariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Livet, Georges, L'Intendance d'Alsace sous Louis XIV, 1648-1715, 1956
Archives départementales du Bas-Rhin, Série E (Registres paroissiaux et état civil de Strasbourg), 1663
Ford, Franklin L., Strasbourg in Transition, 1648-1789, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
knightChivalry and service in arms
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
