A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Friese family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2908 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 barre de gu., acc. de deux trèfles de sin. Cq. cour. C.: trois trèfles de sin. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Friese Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Friese arms are recorded
The Friese arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Friese 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 Friese Family in Germany
The surname Friese is a descriptive name that historically identified people who migrated from the coastal region of Friesland to other parts of the German-speaking world. In the Middle Ages, as families moved away from their ancestral homes, neighbors often used these regional identifiers to distinguish newcomers from the local population. By the time members of the family were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had long since evolved from a simple geographic label into a permanent hereditary surname. During the eighteenth century, Bavaria was a region defined by strict social structures and agricultural traditions, and families like the Frieses often played vital roles in the local village economy. As these ancestors settled into the Bavarian landscape, they became part of the long-standing tradition of German internal migration, carrying the memory of their northern origins through their name while fully integrating into the cultural and social life of their new southern home.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 taillé, d'or à une fleur-de-lis d'azur, sur arg. à une tête de femme de carn., posée de profil, cour. d'or; au 2 d'azur à un sauvage de carn., ceint et cour. de lierre, tenant une massue en pied, le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de sin.”
GaliciaGalicia, c. 1772
Where the Friese Arms Were Recorded
Map of Austria showing where the Friese arms are recorded
The Friese arms were recorded in Galicia, c. 1772.
Galicia was eastern country of large estates and small farming villages, held by families who had been there for a very long time. Land was what entitled a family to arms, and land there rarely changed hands.
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
Galicia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Friese Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Friese arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Galicia.
Origin & History of the Friese Family in Austria
The name Friese carries a history deeply connected to the shifting borders of the Austrian Empire. By 1772, when the Habsburg Monarchy annexed the region of Galicia during the First Partition of Poland, families bearing this name were already established as part of the administrative and social fabric of the territory. The name itself is of Germanic origin and originally served as a descriptive term to identify people who hailed from the coastal region of Frisia. As the Austrian Empire expanded, many families with Germanic roots moved eastward into newly acquired lands to serve as officials, merchants, or settlers. These families often acted as a bridge between the central government in Vienna and the diverse populations living in the eastern provinces. Over time, the Friese family became part of the unique cultural landscape of Galicia, where they lived alongside Polish, Ukrainian, and Jewish communities under the rule of the Austrian crown.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Friso
An ancient Germanic tribal name referring to the Frisian people.
This name
FrieseA topographic or ethnic identifier for a person originating from the Frisia region.
also spelled
Fries
Freeza
Related arms
Friesvariant 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
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
knightChivalry and service in arms
