A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frass family of Germany.
Reg. 3853 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
foxWit and wisdom in defence
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 demi-aigle de sa., cour. d'or, mouv. du parti; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. au lion de gu., cour. d'or, celui du 3 cour. Sur le tout d'arg. à un renard ramp. de gu. Cq. cour. C.: le lion”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Frass Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Frass arms are recorded
The Frass 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 Germany when the Frass 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 Frass Family in Germany
The family name Frass has deep roots in the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. In the German language, the name is often associated with the Middle High German word *vraz*, which historically referred to a person with a hearty appetite or someone who was particularly bold and energetic. During the eighteenth century, families in this part of Southern Germany were frequently tied to the land through agriculture or specialized trades within growing village communities. As the family lived in Bavaria, they were likely influenced by the social and religious shifts of the Holy Roman Empire. Over time, the name evolved alongside the local dialects of the region, eventually becoming a fixed surname that identified the family across generations of Bavarian history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frassus
Latin term meaning a coarse, rough, or broken substance.
This name
FrassA topographic or occupational name referring to someone who lived near or worked with crushed stone or debris.
also spelled
Frass
Frasse
Frasz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
foxWit and wisdom in defence
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
foxWit and wisdom in defence
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
