A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Friedenberg family of Germany.
Reg. 9661 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
legStrength and swiftness
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à un membre d'aigle d'arg., la serre en bas; au chef du même, ch. de trois roses du champ. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut. d'arg.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Friedenberg Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Friedenberg arms are recorded
The Friedenberg arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Germany when the Friedenberg 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Friedenberg Family in Germany
The surname Friedenberg is a classic example of a German topographic name, which was typically created by combining two descriptive words. In this case, the name joins the German words for peace, "Frieden," and mountain or hill, "Berg." Families who adopted this name likely lived near a peaceful hill or a quiet mountain settlement. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Friedenberg family were well-established in the region of Silesia. During this period, Silesia was a vibrant area under the control of the Kingdom of Prussia, and families often moved within these borders to seek new opportunities in trade or agriculture. Because the name is rooted in the geography of the landscape, it suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or landholders who identified their family identity by the specific terrain of their home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frieden and Berg
Peace and mountain or hill
This name
FriedenbergA topographic name for someone living on a peaceful mountain or hill.
also spelled
Friedenberge
Freedenberg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne i akta stanu cywilnego, 1765
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
legStrength and swiftness
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
legStrength and swiftness
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
