A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frend family of England.
Reg. 4942 · 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 Frend Arms Were Recorded
Cambridge
Map of England showing where the Frend arms are recorded
The Frend 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 Frend 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 Frend Family in England
The surname Frend is an ancient English name that likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person known for their friendly or kind nature. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the university town of Cambridge. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Frend family were active within this academic community, where they were often involved in local trade and civic life. During this period, the name was frequently spelled in various ways, such as Friend or Freind, as standardized spelling was not yet common. These early ancestors were part of a growing class of English citizens who helped shape the social and economic character of Cambridge long before the industrial changes of later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Freond
Old English word meaning a friend or loved one.
This name
FrendA nickname for a friendly person or a term of endearment for a companion.
also spelled
Freind
Freende
Related arms
Freindevariant spelling
Friendvariant spelling
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
Smith, Albert Hugh, The Place-Names of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, 1943
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
