A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freden family of Germany.
Reg. 4803 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De sin. à une salamandre au nat., enveloppée de flammes, cont. et posée en barre; au chef de gu., ch. d'une étoile d'or et soutenu d'une fasce d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une grue d'arg., avec sa vigilance d'or, bq. et m. du même. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et de sin.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1778
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Freden arms are recorded
The Freden arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1778.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Freden 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Freden Family in Germany
The family name Freden originates from the historical region of Saxony, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1778. The name is likely topographic or locational in nature, as it is derived from the Old German word *friede*, which translates to peace or a protected enclosure. During the late 18th century, families in this part of Germany were often identified by their connection to specific plots of land or small settlements. As the region underwent significant social and economic shifts, the Freden family established themselves within the local agrarian and civic structures of the Saxon landscape. This period marked a time when surnames became increasingly fixed in official parish and tax records, allowing the family to maintain a distinct identity as they navigated the complexities of life in the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frieden
German word meaning peace or tranquility.
This name
FredenA topographic name for someone who lived near a place associated with peace or a settlement.
also spelled
Froeden
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
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1778
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
