A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Franker family of France.
Reg. 6821 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à un buste d'homme d'arg., cant. de quatre bes. du même.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1699
Where the Franker Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Franker arms are recorded
The Franker arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1699.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 Franker 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Franker Family in France
The surname Franker carries a deep connection to the historical region of Lorraine, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1699. During this period, Lorraine was a complex territory caught between the influence of the Holy Roman Empire and the expanding power of the French monarchy. Families living in this area often navigated a unique blend of Germanic and French cultural traditions, which likely shaped the development of the name. The name itself is thought to be an occupational or descriptive term, potentially derived from the word "Frank," which historically referred to a free person or a member of the Frankish tribes. As the family established their roots in the rural landscapes of Lorraine, they were likely involved in the agricultural or trade-based economy that defined the region during the late seventeenth century. This early residency suggests that the family was part of the resilient population that endured the shifting borders and political transformations of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Francus
A member of the Frankish tribe or a free man.
This name
FrankerA topographic or occupational name for someone from the land of the Franks or a free person.
also spelled
Francoeu
Franker
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Meurthe-et-Moselle, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Cabourdin, Guy, La Lorraine dans la France du XVIIe siècle, 1978
Lepage, Henri, Les communes de la Meurthe: journal historique des villes, bourgs, villages, hameaux et censes, 1853
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
