A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frothingham family of England.
Reg. 6243 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. a bend ar. betw. six mullets or”
YorkSouth Frothingham · York, c. 1620
Where the Frothingham Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Frothingham arms are recorded
The Frothingham arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Frothingham 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 York.
Origin & History of the Frothingham Family in England
The surname Frothingham is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. The name is derived from the village of Frodingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. In the Old English language, the suffix "ham" refers to a homestead or village, while the prefix suggests an association with the descendants of a person named Frotha. By the early 17th century, the family had established strong roots within the region of York. Records confirm that members of the family were living in this area by 1620, placing them in the heart of Yorkshire during a time of significant social and religious change in England. Over the following decades, the name spread as family members moved from these northern English roots to other parts of the world, carrying the history of their ancestral village with them.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Frot
Old Norse personal name meaning wise or prudent.
This name
FrothinghamRefers to the homestead or settlement belonging to the family of the wise one.
also spelled
Frodingham
Froddingham
Related arms
Froddinghamvariant spelling
Frodinghamvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Smith, A. H., The Place-Names of the East Riding of Yorkshire and York, 1937
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives (UK), Probate Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1620
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
