A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freind family of England.
Reg. 6368 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. a chev. betw. three bucks' heads cabossed ar”
CambridgeCambridge, c. 1620
Where the Freind Arms Were Recorded
Cambridge
Map of England showing where the Freind arms are recorded
The Freind arms were recorded in Cambridge, c. 1620.
Cambridgeshire was flat, rich farming country with the university at its centre. Fen drainage made new land and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 Freind 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 Cambridge.
Origin & History of the Freind Family in England
The surname Freind is rooted in the Middle English word "frend," which originally served as a descriptive nickname for a person known for their kind or peaceful nature. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the academic and social circles of Cambridge, England. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Freind family were living in this university town during a period of significant intellectual growth. While the name began as a simple descriptor of character, it eventually became a fixed hereditary surname passed down through generations. These early settlers in Cambridge were part of a growing middle class that helped shape the local community through trade and scholarship. Their history reflects the common practice of turning personal traits into family names that endure for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
freond
Old English word meaning a person whom one knows and likes.
This name
FreindA descriptive nickname for a person who was considered a companion or an associate.
also spelled
Freind
Freende
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
