A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freeman family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6639 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, gu. three lozenges ar., for FREEMAN; 2nd and 3rd, ar. on a chev. gu. betw. three martlets sa. as many crosses pattée of the field, for DEANE”
CorkCastle Cor · Cork, c. 1645
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Map of Ireland showing where the Freeman arms are recorded
The Freeman arms were recorded in Cork, c. 1645.
Cork was the largest county in Ireland, with a great harbour and a wide farming hinterland. Both English settlers and older Irish families held land there, and holding land is what brought a family into the 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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Freeman arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cork.
Origin & History of the Freeman Family in Ireland
The surname Freeman arrived in Ireland primarily through the waves of English settlement during the seventeenth century. By 1645, records confirm that members of the Freeman family were established in County Cork, a region that became a significant hub for these new arrivals. The name itself originated as a descriptive term in England for a person who was not bound to a lord or a manor, meaning they held a status of personal liberty. When these individuals moved to Ireland, they often integrated into the administrative and merchant classes of growing urban centers. Over time, the family name became firmly rooted in the local landscape, transitioning from a label of social status in England to a permanent identifier for families living and working in the Irish province of Munster.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. three lozenges in fesse or”
WorcesterLondon · Worcester, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Freeman arms are recorded
The Freeman arms were recorded in Worcester, c. 1620.
Worcestershire was orchard and farming country with a scattering of old manors. Its gentry were middling rather than great, but a manor was a manor, and holding one was what brought 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 Ireland when the Freeman 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 Worcester.
Origin & History of the Freeman Family in England
The surname Freeman originated in medieval England as a descriptive name for a person who held a specific legal status. During the feudal era, most people were bound to the land as serfs or villeins, but a "freeman" was a person who was not subject to the control of a lord. These individuals enjoyed the right to own property, travel freely, and participate in local government. By the time the name became a permanent hereditary surname, it often identified a family that had achieved this independent status within their community. Records show that members of the Freeman family were well-established in the city of Worcester by 1620, where they likely participated in the vibrant trade and civic life of the region. As residents of a prominent cathedral city, these early Freemans were part of a growing class of citizens who helped shape the social and economic character of seventeenth-century England before some eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic.
Freeman Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Freoman
Old English term referring to a person born free, not a serf.
This name
FreemanA status-based surname denoting an individual who was not bound to a lord.
also spelled
Freemanne
Related arms
Arthurrecorded with Freeman, same area
Balstonrecorded with Freeman, same area
Freerrecorded with Freeman, same area
Masseyrecorded with Freeman, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Cork, 1654–1656
O’Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 1892
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
