A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frishman family of Switzerland.
Reg. 2231 · 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. Brl. d'or et de gu. C.: une femme iss., hab. de gu., ceint et rebr. d'or, au rabat du même, coiffé d'une toque de gu., tenant un trèfle de sin. L. d'or et de gu.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Frishman Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Frishman arms are recorded
The Frishman 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.
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 Frishman Family in Switzerland
The surname Frishman is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it likely functioned as an occupational or descriptive name. The prefix "Frisch" translates to fresh or new, while the suffix "man" denotes a person, suggesting that the name may have originally identified a newcomer to a specific town or a merchant dealing in fresh goods. By 1745, records confirm that members of the Frishman family were established in the city of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. During the eighteenth century, families in this region often moved between German-speaking territories for trade and religious reasons. The presence of the family in Bâle during this period indicates they were part of the active urban population that helped shape the city’s commercial and social landscape. As the family grew, they carried this name across borders, reflecting the migration patterns common among European families of that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frisch
Germanic word meaning fresh, lively, or vigorous.
This name
FrishmanAn occupational surname for a fresh or new man, often referring to a newcomer.
also spelled
Frischman
Frishman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister 1740–1750
Bach, Adolf, Deutsche Namenkunde, 1952
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
