A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freedberg family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2916 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un château sommé de deux tours de sin., acc. en chef de trois étoiles de gu., 2 et 1, la dernière entre les deux tours, et en p. d'une montagne de trois coupeaux, au nat. C.: une femme iss., les cheveux épars, tenant de chaque main une banderole d'or. L. d'or et de sa.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Freedberg Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Freedberg arms are recorded
The Freedberg arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Freedberg Family in Switzerland
The surname Freedberg traces its roots to the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it likely originated as a topographical name describing someone who lived near a peaceful or protected hill. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Bern, Switzerland. Records confirm that members of the family were living there as early as 1745, during a period when Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict patrician class. At this time, the family would have navigated the complex social and legal structures of the Old Swiss Confederacy, where residency and citizenship were tightly controlled by local authorities. As residents of such a prominent urban center, the early Freedbergs likely participated in the local trades or professional guilds that defined the economic life of Bern. Their presence in the city suggests they were integrated into the regional culture, contributing to the steady growth of the population during the Enlightenment era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à l'aigle de sa., languée de gu., celle du 1 cont.; au 2 de gu. au lion d'arg., lamp. de gu.; au 3 de gu. à un mur crén. d'arg., maçonné de sa., et un chevalier iss., mouv. du mur, posé de front, arm. de toutes pièces d'arg., lisé d'or, la visière levée, tenant de sa main dextre une épée flamboyante d'arg. garnie d'or, la main sen. appuyée sur sa hanche et tenant une palme de sin., devant laquelle une bombe allumée s'enfonce dans ledit mur. Cq. cour. C.: le chevalier iss. du 3, entre six pennons, trois de chaque côté l'un sur l'autre: à dextre le premier fascé d'or et d'azur, le deuxième losangé de gu. et d'arg., le troisième fascé d'arg. et d'azur et ch. du chiffre F. III.; à sen. le premier losangé d'arg. et de gu., le deuxième fascé d'azur et d'or, le troisième fascé de sa. et d'or et ch. du chiffre F. III. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Freedberg Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Freedberg arms are recorded
The Freedberg arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families 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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Freedberg Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Switzerland when the Freedberg arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Freedberg Family in Austria
The surname Freedberg traces its roots to the mountainous landscapes of the Austrian Tyrol, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1772. During this period, the region was part of the Habsburg Monarchy, and families often adopted surnames that reflected their geographic surroundings or their specific place of residence. The name likely evolved from a combination of Germanic roots, suggesting a connection to a protected mountain settlement or a peaceful hill. Life in the Tyrol during the late 18th century was defined by a strong connection to the land and the challenges of high-altitude farming. As the family became part of the local community, they participated in the social and economic life of the Alpine valleys. By documenting their presence in official registers during this era, the early Freedbergs secured their place in the long history of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Friedberg
A fortified hill or mountain associated with peace or protection.
This name
FreedbergDerived from German elements meaning peaceful mountain or protected hill.
also spelled
Fridberg
Freedberg
Fredberg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, 2002
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern, 1745
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mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
knightChivalry and service in arms
