A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freiberger family of Germany.
Reg. 3907 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Coupé d'azur sur arg.; l'arg. ch. en chef de deux tourt. de gu. et en p. d'une étoile du même. C.: cinq pl. d'aut., les deux premières à dextre d'arg., les trois autres d'azur. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Freiberger Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Freiberger arms are recorded
The Freiberger arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Freiberger 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Freiberger Family in Germany
The surname Freiberger is a locative name, meaning it was originally used to identify people based on the town or region where they lived. In German, the name translates to someone who comes from a "free mountain" or a "free town," which likely refers to a settlement granted special legal status or tax exemptions during the Middle Ages. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Freiberger family were well-established in Bavaria. During this period, families in the Bavarian region were often deeply connected to the land, working as skilled farmers, craftsmen, or local tradespeople. As the family grew, they moved through the various districts of southern Germany, carrying the name as a marker of their geographic origins and their historical ties to the distinct communities of the Bavarian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frei-Berg
Free mountain or a mountain belonging to a free person.
This name
FreibergerRefers to someone who originated from the town of Freiberg or a mountain settlement.
also spelled
Freyberger
Fryberger
Related arms
Freybergervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kurbayern Hofkammer: Steuer- und Katasterwesen, 1765
Heintze, Albert and Cascorbi, Paul, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1933
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
