A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fricke family of Poland.
Reg. 3911 · Polish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 trois étoiles mal-ordonnées d'or en chef, et deux croiss. figurés et adossés du même en p. C.: les meubles de l'écu.”
CourlandCourland, c. 1772
Where the Fricke Arms Were Recorded
Map of Poland showing where the Fricke arms are recorded
The Fricke arms were recorded in Courland, c. 1772.
Courland was Baltic coast country held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations and served as officers abroad, and both landholding and service brought arms with them.
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
Courland
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Fricke Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in Poland when the Fricke arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Courland.
Origin & History of the Fricke Family in Poland
The surname Fricke is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, originating as a diminutive or affectionate form of names beginning with the element "frid," which translates to peace. Over many centuries, this name evolved from a personal descriptor into a hereditary family name as populations in Northern Europe became more settled. By the late 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the region of Courland, which is located in modern-day Latvia. Historical records confirm that members of the Fricke family were living in this area by 1772, likely as part of the broader movement of German-speaking settlers who influenced the social and economic landscape of the Baltic provinces during that era. These early ancestors were part of a complex cultural tapestry, living in a territory that served as a crossroads for trade and administration between the Russian Empire and the Baltic states.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Friedrich
Derived from the Germanic elements for peace and ruler.
This name
FrickeA diminutive form indicating a descendant of a peaceful ruler.
also spelled
Frick
Frika
Related arms
Frickvariant spelling
Frick de Frieciusvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Latvian State Historical Archives (Latvijas Valsts vēstures arhīvs), Fond 235, Inventory 4 (Records of the Courland Lutheran Consistory)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Sehwers, Johannes, Die Deutschen in Lettland, 1933
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
