Map of England showing where the Frye arms are recorded
The Frye arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Frye 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Frye Family in England
The surname Frye is rooted in the Old English word "frig," which originally meant free or noble. During the Middle Ages, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person who was not a serf or a bondman, distinguishing them as a free man within the feudal system. By the early 17th century, the family had established a strong presence in the county of Devon in southwest England. Records from this period show that members of the Frye family were active participants in the local community, often working as landowners or tradespeople. Their migration patterns suggest that they were part of the broader movement of English families who helped shape the social and economic landscape of the region before many eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic.
Frye Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Freo
An Old English word meaning free or noble.
This name
FryeA descriptive nickname for a person who was a free man rather than a serf.
also spelled
Frie
Fris
Related arms
Frievariant spelling
Fris, or Frisevariant 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, 1958
Devon Archives, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
