A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frewin family of England.
Reg. 6972 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Erm. four bars az. a demi lion ramp. ppr. issuant in chief”
SussexNorthiam · Sussex, c. 1473
Where the Frewin Arms Were Recorded
Sussex
Map of England showing where the Frewin arms are recorded
The Frewin arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1473.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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.
Edward IV of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward IV of England
1471–1483
Reigning in England when the Frewin 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Frewin Family in England
The surname Frewin traces its roots back to the Old English personal name Freowine, which translates to mean a friend of the lord or a noble friend. By the late fifteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Sussex, with records confirming their residence there as early as 1473. During this period, families often lived in small rural communities where they worked as farmers or local tradespeople. As the name spread through the southern English countryside, it evolved from a descriptive personal title into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. This transition reflects a time when people began to adopt permanent family names to distinguish themselves within growing village populations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Freowine
Derived from Old English elements meaning noble friend.
This name
FrewinA surname originating from an Old English personal name signifying a noble or beloved friend.
also spelled
Frewin
Frewyn
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, Sussex Lay Subsidy Rolls, 1473
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
