A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frosch family of Germany.
Reg. 0483 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à la bande ondée d'or, ch. de trois grenouilles au nat. C.: un buste d'homme, hab. aux armes de l'écu, et sommé d'une couronne de roses de gu.”
GermanyFrancfort s, c. 1765
Where the Frosch Arms Were Recorded
Francfort s
Map of Germany showing where the Frosch arms are recorded
The Frosch arms were recorded in Francfort s, c. 1765.
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 Germany when the Frosch 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Frosch Family in Germany
The surname Frosch is a classic example of a German occupational or descriptive name, derived from the Middle High German word for frog. In medieval times, such names were often given as nicknames to individuals who lived near marshy areas, possessed a lively personality, or perhaps had a physical trait that reminded others of the amphibian. By the time the family was firmly established in Frankfurt am Main in 1765, the name had long transitioned from a simple nickname into a formal hereditary surname. During this period in Frankfurt, members of the Frosch family were part of the growing urban middle class, likely involved in the city’s vibrant trade and craft guilds. As Frankfurt served as a major crossroads for European commerce and politics, the family would have experienced the city’s rapid development and shifting social structures firsthand. Their presence in official records from the mid-18th century highlights their integration into the civic life of one of Germany’s most important historical centers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
frosc
Middle High German term for an amphibian or jumping creature.
This name
FroschA nickname for a person considered small, lively, or perhaps having a croaky voice.
also spelled
Frosh
Related arms
Chastansimilar arms
Damontsimilar arms
Jessen-Schardeböllsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Institut für Stadtgeschichte Frankfurt am Main, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Frankfurt am Main
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: 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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
