A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frayne family of England.
Reg. 7214 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Erm. two bars gu. in chief a demi lion of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Frayne Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Frayne arms are recorded
The Frayne arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Frayne arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Frayne Family in England
The surname Frayne is believed to have roots in both Ireland and England, often serving as an anglicized version of older Gaelic names or a descriptive term for a person from a specific region. By the early seventeenth century, members of the Frayne family were firmly established in the city of York, England. Records indicate their presence there by 1620, placing them in a bustling trade hub during a time of significant social and political change. Families in York during this era were frequently involved in the city’s vibrant merchant guilds or local craft industries, which allowed them to build stable lives within the urban community. While the name may have traveled across the Irish Sea or evolved through local dialects, the 1620 records confirm that the Fraynes were active participants in the life of northern England long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frane
A Germanic term referring to a free man or commoner.
This name
FrayneAn occupational or status-based surname denoting a person of free status.
also spelled
Frayne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
