A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frega family of Germany.
Reg. 5387 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à cinq arbres d'arg., rangés sur une terrasse du même; le champ chapé-ployé d'or, à deux boutons de rose de sin., tigés du même, feuillés chacun d'une seule pièce. Cq. cour. C.: un bouton de rose de sin., entre un vol coupé, à dextre d'or sur sin., à sen. d'azur sur arg. L. conformes aux émaux du vol.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Frega Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Frega arms are recorded
The Frega arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit 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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Frega 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Frega Family in Germany
The Frega family name has deep roots in the historical landscape of Bavaria, with documented evidence placing members of the lineage there as early as 1765. During the eighteenth century, Bavaria was a region defined by its agricultural traditions and its position within the Holy Roman Empire. Families like the Fregas often lived in small, tight-knit communities where names were frequently tied to local geography or specific occupations. In the context of rural Bavarian life, the name likely emerged as a way to distinguish families within a parish or village. As the region transitioned through various political shifts, the Frega family remained part of the social fabric that supported the local economy and regional customs. By studying these early records, we gain a clearer picture of how families settled into specific districts and contributed to the growth of their communities over several generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frig
Derived from the Germanic root meaning to love or to be free.
This name
FregaA topographic name for someone living near a field or a descriptive term for a free person.
also spelled
Fregee
Fregey
Fregez
Fregay
Frega
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87