A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frolik family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2446 · Swiss, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au lion d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, iss.”
SwitzerlandAarau, c. 1745
Where the Frolik Arms Were Recorded
Aarau
Map of Switzerland showing where the Frolik arms are recorded
The Frolik arms were recorded in Aarau, 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 Frolik Family in Switzerland
The Frolik family name has deep roots in the Swiss canton of Aargau, where records confirm their presence in the town of Aarau by 1745. The name is derived from the Middle High German word *vrolich*, which translates to cheerful or joyful. During the eighteenth century, families with this name were often integrated into the local civic life of Aarau, a town known for its strategic location along the Aare River and its importance as a center for trade and politics. As citizens of this region, the early Froliks likely participated in the traditional guild systems or agricultural practices that defined Swiss life at the time. Their documented presence in the mid-1700s suggests that they were part of the established community during a period of significant social and economic development in the Swiss Confederation. By maintaining their residence in Aarau, the family contributed to the long-standing cultural history of the region, carrying a name that reflected a positive disposition through generations of Swiss history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à deux fasces d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. au lion d'or, soutenu d'un tertre du même. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, iss. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et de sa.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Frolik Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Frolik arms are recorded
The Frolik arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats 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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Switzerland when the Frolik 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Frolik Family in Germany
The surname Frolik originates from the Slavic root word *frol*, which is a shortened form of the name Florian, meaning joyful or blooming. By the mid-18th century, families bearing this name were well-established in the Franconia region of Germany. During this period, Franconia was a diverse territory within the Holy Roman Empire, characterized by small farming communities and growing market towns. Families like the Froliks often worked as skilled laborers or independent farmers, contributing to the local economy of the region. As they settled into these communities, the name became a permanent fixture in local parish registers and tax documents. These records show that the family was part of the steady social fabric of southern Germany, living through a time of agricultural transition and regional political change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
frolich
Derived from the Middle High German word for happy or joyful.
This name
FrolikA descriptive surname for a cheerful, merry, or lighthearted individual.
also spelled
Frohlick
Frolik
Frolick
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv Aargau, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Aarau (1745)
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
