A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frome family of England.
Reg. 3127 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. six martlets gu. three, two, and one”
WiltsKennet · Wilts, c. 1620
Where the Frome Arms Were Recorded
Wilts
Map of England showing where the Frome arms are recorded
The Frome arms were recorded in Wilts, c. 1620.
Wiltshire was sheep country, and wool made money steadily for hundreds of years. Families who made it bought manors on the downs, and holding a manor was the usual reason to take 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 Frome 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 Wilts.
Origin & History of the Frome Family in England
The surname Frome is a locative name, which means it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the River Frome in Somerset, which flows through the town of the same name. In Old English, the word *fraw* meant brisk or fine, suggesting that the river was once described for its lively current. By the time the family was firmly established in Wiltshire in 1620, the name had already been in use for several centuries as a way to identify people who had migrated from the river valley. Families bearing this name were often landowners or tenant farmers who moved across county lines in search of better agricultural opportunities. Because the name is tied to a geographical feature, it reflects the deep connection early English families had to the specific landscapes where they first settled.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Froma
Old English word meaning fair or fine.
This name
FromeA topographic name for someone who lived near the River Frome, meaning fair or brisk river.
also spelled
Fromm
Related arms
Napierrecorded with Frome, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre. Quarter Sessions Great Rolls, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
