A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Friis family of Denmark.
Reg. 5795 · Danish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
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 une branche de rosier de sin., fleurie de trois pièces de gu. C.: cinq pl. d'aut., alt. de gu. et d'arg.”
Denmarkc. 1722
Where the Friis Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Friis arms are recorded
The Friis arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of arms.
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 Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Friis arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Friis Family in Denmark
The surname Friis is a classic Danish name that carries a long history rooted in the social structures of the Middle Ages. The name itself is derived from the Old Danish word "fris," which was used to describe someone who was free or exempt from certain taxes and feudal obligations. By the time the family was firmly established in Sjælland in 1722, the name had become a common way to identify individuals who held a specific legal or social status within their local community. During this period, the family members living on the island were part of a society transitioning from traditional rural life toward more formal record-keeping. As the Danish state began to track its citizens more closely through church registers and land surveys, the Friis name became a permanent marker of their lineage and their place within the regional landscape of Sjælland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fris
A person originating from the region of Frisia.
This name
FriisAn occupational or ethnic surname denoting someone from the Frisian lands.
also spelled
Frijs
Fries
Fryis
Fris
Frees
Related arms
Behuchetsimilar arms
Keuchensimilar arms
Kisslingsimilar arms
Friesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Karker, Allan. Dansk Navneleksikon. 1995
Nielsen, Oluf. Olddanske Personnavne. 1883
Rigsarkivet, Kirkebøger fra Sjællands Stift
Rigsarkivet, Folketællinger og Jordebøger
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
