A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Friant family of France.
Reg. 7725 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
columnFortitude and constancy
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 de gu. à une piramide d'or, maçonnée de sa.; au 2 de sa. à quatre têtes de cheval d'arg., 2 et 2.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1809
Where the Friant Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Friant arms are recorded
The Friant arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1809.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Napoleon
Sovereign of the period
Napoleon
1804–1814
Reigning in France when the Friant 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Friant Family in France
The Friant family name is deeply rooted in the historical region of Lorraine, a territory in northeastern France known for its complex cultural heritage and shifting borders. By the early nineteenth century, the family was well-established in this area, living through a period of intense political transformation as the region transitioned through the Napoleonic era. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a local occupational term, which was a common practice for families living in rural French provinces during the Middle Ages. Because Lorraine served as a crossroads for trade and migration between Germanic and French-speaking populations, the Friant family likely navigated a diverse social environment that influenced their daily lives and traditions. Their presence in the region by 1809 suggests that they were part of the stable, land-holding, or artisan classes that formed the backbone of Lorraine’s society during the transition into the modern age.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
froid
Derived from the Old French word for cold.
This name
FriantA nickname for a person with a cold or reserved temperament.
also spelled
Friand
Fryant
Freean
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, État civil de Lorraine
Cabourdin, Guy, Histoire de la Lorraine, 1991
Lepage, Henri, Dictionnaire topographique du département de la Meurthe, 1862
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
columnFortitude and constancy
horseReadiness to serve king and country
columnFortitude and constancy
horseReadiness to serve king and country
