Frischknecht Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frischknecht family of Switzerland.

Reg. 3319 · Swiss, D–F

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it

trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity

Colours

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)

“De gu. à un trèfle de sin. mouv. d'un tertre du même. C.: un homme barbu iss., hab. de gu., rebr. d'arg., au rabat du meme, coiffé d'un bonnet conique de gu. retr. d'arg., tenant un trèfle de sin. L. d'or et de sa.”

SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745

Where the Frischknecht Arms Were Recorded

Bâle

Map of Switzerland showing where the Frischknecht arms are recorded

The Frischknecht arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.

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: Bâle
Town: Bâle
First recorded: 1745

Granting Authority for the Frischknecht Arms

Authority

Cantonal and civic registers

14th century onwards

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 Frischknecht Family in Switzerland

The surname Frischknecht is a classic example of a descriptive occupational name originating from the German-speaking regions of Switzerland. The name is composed of two parts: "frisch," meaning fresh or energetic, and "knecht," which historically referred to a servant, farmhand, or a young man in training. Together, the name likely identified a vigorous or newly arrived worker within a rural community. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Bâle, where records confirm their residence by 1745. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the local guild systems or agricultural sectors, contributing to the steady growth of the region’s urban and suburban populations. Over time, the family spread from these early hubs, maintaining their identity through a name that reflects the industrious spirit of their ancestors.