A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freiwald family of Germany.
Reg. 1711 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. du champ, celle du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. au lion d'or, cour.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1618
Where the Freiwald Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Freiwald arms are recorded
The Freiwald arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1618.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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.
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
1612–1619
Reigning in Germany when the Freiwald 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Freiwald Family in Germany
The surname Freiwald is a topographic name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It combines the words "frei," meaning free, and "wald," meaning forest. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near or managed a section of woodland that was exempt from certain feudal obligations or taxes. By 1618, records confirm that the family was well-established in the region of Saxony. During this period, the Thirty Years' War began to devastate the German states, causing significant social upheaval and migration. Families like the Freiwalds often lived in rural communities where they worked as foresters or farmers. Over the following centuries, the name remained tied to these central German lands as the family members adapted to the changing political and economic landscape of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frei-Wald
Free or independent forest or woodland area.
This name
FreiwaldRefers to someone living near or owning a forest that was exempt from feudal obligations.
also spelled
Freiwald
Freywalt
Fraywald
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1618
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
