A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frere family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2330 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à une étoile d'arg. au chef d'or, ch. d'une croix pattée de gu.”
BretagneLyon · Bretagne, c. 1663
Where the Frere Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Frere arms are recorded
The Frere arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Frere arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Frere Family in France
The surname Frere originated in medieval France as a descriptive nickname, derived from the Old French word *frere*, which means brother. During the Middle Ages, this name was often given to individuals who were members of a religious order or to someone who displayed a particularly brotherly or friendly nature. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in the region of Bretagne. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the Frere family were active in this coastal province, where they likely participated in the local agricultural or maritime economy that defined life in western France. As the family grew, they integrated into the social fabric of the region, carrying a name that reflected both their potential religious ties and their reputation for community connection.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
flaunchesA reward for virtue and learning
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Or, an ear of barley betw. two bars humettée gu. two flaunches of the second each charged with an ear of barley of the first”
OxfordWater Eyton · Oxford, c. 1574
Where the Frere Arms Were Recorded
Oxford
Map of England showing where the Frere arms are recorded
The Frere arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1574.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 England in this period.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in France when the Frere 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Frere Family in England
The name Frere has deep roots in English history, emerging as a descriptive surname during the Middle Ages. It originated from the Old French word *frere*, which means brother, and was often used as a nickname for someone who lived like a monk or perhaps worked for a religious house. By the time the family established a documented presence in Oxford in 1574, the name had become a permanent fixture of the local community. During this period, Oxford was a center of academic and social growth, and families like the Freres were often involved in the trades or the university life that defined the city. As the name became passed down through generations, it transitioned from a simple descriptor of character into a formal family identity that reflected the social structures of early modern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
frater
Latin term meaning brother or member of a religious order.
This name
FrereA nickname for a brother, a member of a religious fraternity, or a pious person.
also spelled
Frer
Freer
Frear
Related arms
Frearvariant spelling
Freervariant spelling
Byrderecorded with Frere, same area
Waynforthrecorded with Frere, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Série E. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
flaunchesA reward for virtue and learning
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
