Freemantle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Freemantle family

The surname Freemantle was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of lands Reginald Freimantel who succeeded the Norman noble who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Freemantle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Freemantle research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1360, 1396, 1765, 1766, 1798, 1800, 1819, 1850, 1869 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Freemantle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Freemantle Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Freemantle, Fremantle, Freimantle, Fremantel and many more.

Early Notables of the Freemantle family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Francis Fremantle (1765-1819), a highly successful naval officer in the Royal Navy, who was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and received several Austrian and Italian knighthoods; his eldest son Thomas Francis Fremantle, 1st Baron Cottesloe (1798-1890), British...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Freemantle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Freemantle migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Freemantle or a variant listed above:

Freemantle Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Freemantle, who arrived in America in 1765
William Freemantle, who arrived in America in 1775

Freemantle Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John Henry Freemantle, aged 32, who settled in America from Reading, England, in 1907
William A. Freemantle, aged 41, who landed in America from London, England, in 1907
Geo James Freemantle, aged 45, who landed in America from Middlesboro, England, in 1909
Ada M. Freemantle, aged 12, who landed in America from Middlesboro, England, in 1910
Arthur Freemantle, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States from Southampton, in 1919
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Freemantle migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Freemantle Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Hy Freemantle, who arrived in Canada in 1909

Freemantle migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Freemantle Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Freemantle a seaman, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Rapid" in 1836 2
William Freemantle a seaman, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Rapid" in 1836 2
William J. Freemantle, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Rapid" in 1836 2
Elizabeth Freemantle, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Gipsy Queen" in 1850 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Freemantle (post 1700) +

John Freemantle (1758-1831), English cricketer who played for Hambledon Club, elder brother of the more famous Andrew Freemantle
Frederick William Freemantle (1871-1943), English cricketer for Hampshire in 1900
Andrew Freemantle (1768-1837), English cricketer who played for Hampshire
Brian Harry Freemantle (1936-2024), English thriller and non-fiction writer, best known for his 1977 spy novel Charlie Muffin
Sir William Freemantle (1766-1850), English politician, youngest son of John Fremantle of Aston Abbots, Buckinghamshire, born 28 Dec. 1766 4
Sir Thomas Freemantle (1765-1819), English vice-admiral, third son of John Fremantle of Aston Abbots in Buckinghamshire, born 20 Nov. 1765 4

The Freemantle Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nec prece ne pretio
Motto Translation: Neither prayer, nor price

Sources +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAPID 1836. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1836Rapid.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GIPSY QUEEN 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850GipsyQueen.htm
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020