A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frith family of England.
Reg. 1480 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. in chief two garbs in saltire or, in base a sickle fessways ar. handled of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Frith Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Frith arms are recorded
The Frith arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Frith arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Frith Family in England
The surname Frith is an ancient English name that originated as a topographic descriptor for people who lived near a forest or a patch of woodland. The word itself comes from the Old English term *fyrhth*, which referred to a wooded area or a protected piece of land. By the time the family was firmly established in the city of York around 1620, the name had been in use for several centuries across various parts of England. Families bearing this name were often associated with rural landscapes, though by the seventeenth century, many had moved into bustling urban centers like York to participate in trade and civic life. The presence of the Frith family in York during this period suggests they were part of the growing merchant or artisan class that helped define the city’s economy during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fripu
An Old English and Old Germanic term for peace or friendship.
This name
FrithRefers to a person who lived near a forest clearing or a peaceful sanctuary.
also spelled
Fryth
Related arms
Firthvariant spelling
Frythvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
