A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freeland family of England.
Reg. 2642 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ermineDignity and rank
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Counter-ermine (Ermines)Means: 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)
“Ar. a chev. ermines betw. three mullets gu”
HantsGretham · Hants, c. 1620
Where the Freeland Arms Were Recorded
Hants
Map of England showing where the Freeland arms are recorded
The Freeland arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1620.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its coat of 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 Freeland 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 Hants.
Origin & History of the Freeland Family in England
The surname Freeland is a locative or descriptive name that likely originated in England during the Middle Ages. It was traditionally used to describe a person who held land freely, meaning they were not bound by the strict obligations of feudal serfdom. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Hampshire. Records confirm that members of the Freeland family were living in this region by 1620, where they were often involved in local agriculture and community life. As the name spread across southern England, it became associated with families who valued their independence and worked their own plots of earth. This connection to the land remained a defining feature of the family identity as they moved through the centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
freo land
Old English for free land or land held without feudal obligation.
This name
FreelandA person who held land in free tenure, exempt from the usual feudal services or obligations.
also spelled
Frelande
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
Hampshire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers for the Diocese of Winchester, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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
ermineDignity and rank
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ermineDignity and rank
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
