A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frankenberg family of France.
Reg. 2824 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à quinze boules d'or, 5, 4, 3, 2 et 1. C.: deux cornes de buffle de sa., ornées chacune à l'ext. de cinq boules d'or, dont une sur le sommet [V. Baur de Frankenberg.]”
Francec. 1663
Where the Frankenberg Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Frankenberg arms are recorded
The Frankenberg arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Frankenberg 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 Frankenberg Family in France
The name Frankenberg originates from the German language and translates to "mountain of the Franks." It was historically used as a locative surname, meaning it was given to families who lived near or owned land on a specific hill or mountain associated with the Frankish people. While the name has deep roots in Central Europe, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne, France, by 1663. During the seventeenth century, families often moved across borders due to shifting political boundaries, military service, or the search for new economic opportunities. The presence of the family in Bretagne suggests that they were part of a broader movement of people who integrated into local society while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity. Over time, the name became a permanent marker of their heritage, linking their life in France back to their origins in the Germanic territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frankenberg
Derived from the Germanic words for free man and mountain or hill.
This name
FrankenbergRefers to a person who originated from a mountain or fortified hill belonging to the Franks.
also spelled
Frankenbourg
Frankenbergh
Frankenberk
Related arms
Franck de Franckenbergvariant spelling
Franckenbergvariant spelling
Franckenberg-Ludwigsdorffvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Dauzat, Albert, Les noms de famille de France, 1949
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
