A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freeling family of England.
Reg. 9769 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Per fesse indented or and gu. three unicorn's heads, two and one, erased counterchanged”
SussexFord · Sussex, c. 1620
Where the Freeling Arms Were Recorded
Sussex
Map of England showing where the Freeling arms are recorded
The Freeling arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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 Freeling 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Freeling Family in England
The history of the Freeling family is deeply rooted in the rural landscape of Sussex, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1620. The name itself is likely locational or descriptive in origin, emerging from the linguistic traditions of southern England during the late medieval and early modern periods. Families in this region often derived their surnames from the specific hamlets or geographical features near their homes, suggesting that the early Freelings were closely tied to the agricultural life of the Sussex countryside. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family became part of the local social fabric, participating in the parish life and economic activities that defined life in the English Weald. By maintaining a presence in the region for generations, the family contributed to the long-standing history of the county, leaving behind traces in local records that document their steady growth and integration into the community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Freo
Old English word meaning free or noble.
This name
FreelingA descendant of a free man or someone who held a status of liberty.
also spelled
Freelyng
Related arms
Clarkerecorded with Freeling, same area
Clerkerecorded with Freeling, same area
Scurfieldrecorded with Freeling, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
West Sussex Record Office, Parish Registers of the Diocese of Chichester, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
