A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freno family of Germany.
Reg. 1695 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. à une licorne saillante d'arg. C.: la licorne, iss.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Freno Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Freno arms are recorded
The Freno arms were recorded in Nuremberg, c. 1765.
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 Freno 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Freno Family in Germany
The family name Freno finds its historical roots in the vibrant urban landscape of eighteenth-century Germany. Records confirm that members of the family were established in the imperial city of Nuremberg by 1765. During this period, Nuremberg served as a major hub for skilled craftsmanship and international trade, which likely shaped the daily lives and professional paths of the early Freno family members. As residents of such a prominent city, they were part of a society that valued technical precision and industrious work. While the specific origins of the name may be linked to regional dialects or local occupations common to the Franconian area, the family’s presence in this bustling center of commerce suggests they were well-integrated into the social and economic fabric of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fren
A Middle High German term for a bold or daring person.
This name
FrenoA topographic or habitational name for someone living near a bold landmark.
also spelled
Frenault
Freno
Freneaux
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg (1765)
G. Hirschmann, Nürnberg im 18. Jahrhundert (1975)
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unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
