A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Freudenberg family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0115 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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'arg. à un cheval cabré de gu., soutenu d'une terrasse penché de sin. C.: le cheval, iss. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Freudenberg Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Freudenberg arms are recorded
The Freudenberg arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Freudenberg Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Freudenberg arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Freudenberg Family in Netherlands
The name Freudenberg originates from the German language, combining the words for joy and mountain, and it likely functioned as a topographical surname for families living near a prominent hill. While the name is deeply rooted in German-speaking regions, records confirm that members of the family were established in the Dutch province of Friesland by 1815. During this period, the Netherlands underwent significant administrative changes following the Napoleonic era, which led to the formal registration of surnames in civil records. Families moving into the northern provinces often integrated into local agricultural or trade communities, adapting their German-origin names to the Dutch linguistic landscape. By the early nineteenth century, these individuals were recognized as part of the local population, contributing to the social and economic fabric of Friesland as the region transitioned into the newly formed United Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé-émanché de gu. sur arg.; à la barre d'azur, ch. de trois annelets d'arg., br. sur le tout.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Freudenberg Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Freudenberg arms are recorded
The Freudenberg arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats 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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Netherlands when the Freudenberg 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Freudenberg Family in Germany
The name Freudenberg is a topographical surname, which means it was originally derived from the physical landscape where the family lived. In German, the name combines the words for joy and mountain, suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely resided near a hill or a fortified settlement known as a "joyous mountain." By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family established a notable presence in the Franconia region of Germany. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the family were active in this area during a time of significant social and agricultural change. As the family grew, they integrated into the local community life of the Franconian countryside, contributing to the regional history of southern Germany through their daily work and local interactions. This transition from a descriptive place name to a recognized family identity reflects the common naming patterns of the era, where individuals were often identified by the specific landmarks that defined their home territory.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Freude and Berg
Joy and mountain or hill
This name
FreudenbergRefers to a person living on a joyful mountain or a hill of happiness.
also spelled
Freudenburg
Froydenberg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (Civil Registry of Friesland) 1811–1950
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Familienamenbank (Dutch Surname Database)
Van der Meer, G., De geschiedenis van de Friese bevolking (The History of the Frisian Population), 1998
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
horseReadiness to serve king and country
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
horseReadiness to serve king and country
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
