A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frayer family of France.
Reg. 4546 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or ou d'arg. à deux serpents ondoyants en fasce, celui de dessous cont., surmontés d'un chev. alésé, le tout de sa.”
FranceGrenoble, c. 1663
Where the Frayer Arms Were Recorded
Grenoble
Map of France showing where the Frayer arms are recorded
The Frayer arms were recorded in Grenoble, 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 Frayer 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 Frayer Family in France
The family name Frayer carries a rich history rooted in the mountainous landscape of southeastern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well established in the city of Grenoble, which served as a major center for trade and culture in the Dauphiné region. The name likely evolved from local dialects describing a person’s character or their role within the alpine community. During the seventeenth century, families in this area were often deeply connected to the local guilds and the agricultural life of the surrounding valleys. As the Frayer family settled into the urban environment of Grenoble, they became part of a growing class of citizens who helped shape the city’s development during a period of significant regional change. Their presence in official documents from this era suggests that they were active participants in the social and economic life of the city long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frater
Latin term meaning brother or member of a religious brotherhood.
This name
FrayerAn occupational name for a friar or a nickname for someone associated with a monastery.
also spelled
Frayre
Fraier
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Registres paroissiaux de Grenoble, 1663
Borel d'Hauterive, Annuaire de la noblesse de France et des maisons souveraines de l'Europe, 1855
Chorier, Nicolas, Histoire générale de Dauphiné, 1661
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
