A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frayre family of France.
Reg. 1911 · 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 Frayre Arms Were Recorded
Grenoble
Map of France showing where the Frayre arms are recorded
The Frayre 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 Frayre 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 Frayre Family in France
The family name Frayre traces its roots to the mountainous region of southeastern France, with documented evidence placing the family in the city of Grenoble by 1663. During the seventeenth century, Grenoble served as a vital center for trade and legal administration within the Dauphiné province. Families living in this area often held roles tied to the local guilds or the regional parliament, which allowed them to establish deep roots in the community. The name itself is thought to be a regional variation of terms related to brotherhood or local kinship networks common in the Occitan-speaking areas of the time. By settling in a major urban hub like Grenoble, the early Frayre family members were likely positioned to participate in the growing economic life of the French Alps, helping to preserve their family identity through generations of social and political change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frater
Latin term meaning brother or member of a religious order.
This name
FrayreA surname derived from a nickname for a brother or a lay member of 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
Bouchard, Gérard, Quelques arpents d'Amérique: Population et économie du peuplement, 1996
Poncet, Olivier, La France à l'époque moderne, 2010
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
