A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freak family of Britain.
Reg. 0237 · Britain, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bullValour and generosity
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 de sa. à la fasce engr. d'or, ch. de trois rencontres de boeuf du champ et acc. de trois étoiles (6) du sec., rangées en chef; au 2 d'azur à la fasce engr. d'or, ch. de trois rencontres de boeuf de sa., mouv. d'un rocher au nat. et tenant entre ses dents une étoile (6) d'or. D.: INTEGRITY.”
SurreySurrey, c. 1882
Where the Freak Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of Britain showing where the Freak arms are recorded
The Freak arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1882.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Britain in this period.
Victoria
Sovereign of the period
Victoria
1837–1901
Reigning in Britain when the Freak arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Freak Family in Britain
The surname Freak is primarily associated with the southern counties of England, with historical records confirming a strong presence in Surrey by the late nineteenth century. The name is considered a topographic or descriptive surname, likely originating from Middle English terms that identified a person by their physical traits or a specific personality quirk. During the Victorian era, families bearing this name were often integrated into the local agricultural and trade communities of Surrey, where they established deep roots as laborers and craftsmen. As the population moved toward urban centers during the Industrial Revolution, the name became more widely distributed across the region. While the spelling has remained relatively consistent over the last two centuries, it reflects a long tradition of naming conventions that were common in rural English parishes before the advent of standardized census records.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
frek
Middle English term meaning bold, eager, or courageous.
This name
FreakA descriptive nickname for a person who was notably energetic, bold, or spirited.
also spelled
Freek
Freak
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, 1890
Surrey History Centre, Surrey Parish Records, 1882
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