A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freire family of Spain.
Reg. 6632 · Spanish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sin. à la bande de gu., bordée d'or, engoulée de deux têtes de dragon du même.”
Spainc. 1722
Where the Freire Arms Were Recorded
Castile
Map of Spain showing where the Freire arms are recorded
The Freire arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
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 Spain in this period.
Philip V of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip V of Spain
1714–1724
Reigning in Spain when the Freire arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Spain
In Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
Granting authority
The Cronista Rey de Armas was the official body that regulated and granted coats of arms throughout Spain.
How they got arms
Families often obtained their arms through royal grants or by proving their noble status to the official heraldic authority.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the registers of the Cronista Rey de Armas starting in 1496.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Spain.
Origin & History of the Freire Family in Spain
The surname Freire has deep roots in the Iberian Peninsula, originating as a descriptive term derived from the Old Portuguese and Galician word for brother or friar. During the Middle Ages, the name was often used to identify individuals who were associated with religious orders or those who lived a life of service and humility. By the early 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the region of Castile, where they integrated into the local social and administrative structures of the Spanish Crown. As the family moved through these territories, they became part of the broader demographic shifts that defined rural and urban life in 1722. Their history reflects the common practice of the era where surnames evolved from personal roles or religious titles into permanent family identifiers that were passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frater
Latin term meaning brother or member of a religious order.
This name
FreireA surname historically denoting a friar or a member of a mendicant religious order.
also spelled
Freyre
Freer
Frayra
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Moll, Francesc de Borja, Els llinatges catalans: Catalunya, País Valencià i les Illes, 1959
Piel, Joseph M., Os nomes de família em Portugal, 1968
Archivo General de Simancas, Registro del Sello de Corte, 1722
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
