A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Franken family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2657 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à la fasce de gu. (Franken); aux 2 et 3 d'azur à trois poissons nageants d'arg., l'un sur l'autre.”
NetherlandsDordrecht, c. 1815
Where the Franken Arms Were Recorded
Dordrecht
Map of Netherlands showing where the Franken arms are recorded
The Franken arms were recorded in Dordrecht, c. 1815.
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.
Region
Dordrecht
Town
Dordrecht
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Franken Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Franken arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Franken Family in Netherlands
The surname Franken is a patronymic name, which means it was originally derived from the given name Frank. In the context of the Netherlands, the name often points to an ancestral connection to the Frankish people who settled in the region during the early Middle Ages. By the time the family appears in the official records of Dordrecht in 1815, the name had long been established as a stable hereditary surname. During the early nineteenth century, Dordrecht was a bustling center of trade and maritime activity, and families like the Frankens were often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes. The transition to formal civil registration in the Netherlands during the Napoleonic era required families to solidify their surnames for tax and military purposes. This period provides a clear historical anchor for the family, showing them as established citizens participating in the administrative life of a prominent Dutch city.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
triangleThe Trinity, and stability
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 de gu. à une ancre d'arg.; au 2 d'or à un trèfle de sin., mouv. d'un coeur de gu.; au 3 d'or au lion de gu., cour. d'or; et trois triangles d'arg., accostés et s'entre-touchant, br. sur le lion; au 4 d'azur à un mont isolé de plusieurs coupeaux d'arg. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un trèfle de sin.; entre un vol coupé alt. de gu. et d'or; l. d'arg. et de gu.; 2° le mont du 4; entre un vol coupé alt. d'azur et d'arg.; l. d'or et de gu. S.: deux lions d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu. - (Barons bavarois, 10 oct. 1729.) Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à une ancre de sa.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à un trèfle de sin., mouv. d'un coeur de gu.”
Francec. 1721
Where the Franken Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Franken arms are recorded
The Franken arms were recorded in France, c. 1721.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in Netherlands when the Franken 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 Franken Family in France
The family name Franken carries a history deeply connected to the movement of people across European borders during the early eighteenth century. While the name is often associated with Germanic regions, records confirm that members of the family were established in the Brittany region of France by 1721. During this period, Brittany served as a significant hub for trade and migration, drawing individuals from various parts of the continent who sought new opportunities in the coastal cities and rural parishes. The presence of the Franken name in French parish registers from this time suggests that these early ancestors successfully integrated into the local community, likely adapting their linguistic traditions to fit the French environment. By settling in Brittany, the family became part of a complex social landscape where families often navigated shifting regional identities while maintaining their ancestral surnames as a link to their origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frank
A member of the Germanic tribe known as the Franks.
This name
FrankenRefers to a person who originated from the region of Franconia or belonged to the Frankish people.
also spelled
Francken
Frankin
Frankon
Related arms
Franckenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Nationaal Archief, Burgerlijke Stand en Bevolking in Nederland
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
triangleThe Trinity, and stability
