A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frentz family of Germany.
Reg. 3392 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. à la fasce brét. et c.-brét. de sa. C.: une tête et col de chien braque d'arg., coll. de la fasce de l'écu.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Frentz Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Frentz arms are recorded
The Frentz arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Frentz 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Frentz Family in Germany
The family name Frentz traces its roots to the Westphalia region of Germany, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1765. The name is considered a variant of the name Franz, which was a common way to identify someone who had traveled from France or who had a connection to French culture. During the eighteenth century, Westphalia was a landscape defined by small farming communities and growing trade towns. Families like the Frentzes were often deeply tied to the land, working as skilled laborers or independent farmers who helped shape the local economy. As the population moved and shifted throughout the German states, the Frentz name became a marker of this specific regional identity, reflecting the cultural blending that occurred along the borders of Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Laurentius
Latin name meaning one who is crowned with laurel leaves.
This name
FrentzA German patronymic or diminutive form derived from the name Lawrence.
also spelled
Frenz
Frents
Related arms
Vorstsame arms
Frenzvariant spelling
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1971
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Kirchenbücher der Westfälischen Provinzen, 1765
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
