A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Friederich family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0284 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 la croix alésée de gu. C.: un homme iss., hab. de gu., coiffé d'un bonnet albanais du même et supp. de sa main dextre une étoile d'or.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Friederich Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Friederich arms are recorded
The Friederich arms were recorded in Nuremberg, c. 1765.
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 Friederich 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Friederich Family in Germany
The name Friederich is a classic German surname that originates from the ancient Germanic given name Friedrich, which combines the words for peace and ruler. By the time your ancestors were documented in Nuremberg in 1765, the name had been established for centuries as a reflection of the social and political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire. During this period, Nuremberg served as a major center for trade and craftsmanship, attracting skilled families who often adopted surnames based on their personal names to distinguish themselves in growing urban populations. Families like yours were part of a rising middle class that relied on the city’s reputation for metalwork and commerce. As the name spread across the German-speaking lands, it became a common way to honor the legacy of regional leaders and local traditions. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Friederich family in Nuremberg was likely integrated into the city’s industrious culture, contributing to the local economy while maintaining a name that carried deep historical roots in Germanic language and governance.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
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)
“D'azur à une main jurante appaumée de carn., posée en pal, mouv. d'une nuée d'arg. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Friederich Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Friederich arms are recorded
The Friederich arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Friederich Family in Switzerland
The family name Friederich has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, where it emerged as a variation of the ancient Germanic name Friedrich, meaning peaceful ruler. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the city and canton of Bern. During this era, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict social hierarchy, and families like the Friederichs often played roles in the local guilds or agricultural life that defined the Swiss economy. Because Switzerland was a collection of independent cantons at the time, the name became tied to the specific political and social identity of the Bernese people. The presence of the family in official records by 1745 suggests they were settled citizens who participated in the community life of the region during a time of significant transition for the Swiss Confederation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Friduric
Derived from Germanic elements meaning peaceful ruler.
This name
FriederichA name signifying a powerful or wealthy ruler who maintains peace.
also spelled
Friderich
Friederick
Freederik
Frederick
Related arms
Friderichvariant spelling
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
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg, 1765
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
handFaith, sincerity and justice
