Frelin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Frelin

What does the name Frelin mean?

The earliest origins of the name Frelin date back to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. The name is derived from the baptismal name Freeland. Baptismal names began to appear as surnames relatively late in the growth of the naming tradition. This is a little surprising, given the popularity of biblical figures in the Christian countries of Europe. Nevertheless, surnames derived from baptismal names grew in popularity during the Middle Ages, and have become one of the foremost sources for surnames. The surname Frelin also originated as the place-name Freeland, a parish in the dioceses of Oxford.

Early Origins of the Frelin family

The surname Frelin was first found in Hampshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Frelin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Frelin research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1764 and 1836 are included under the topic Early Frelin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frelin Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Frelin include Freeland, Freeling, Frieland and others.

Early Notables of the Frelin family

More information is included under the topic Early Frelin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frelin Ranking

In France, the name Frelin is the 7,265^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Frelin family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled 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 ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Frelin or a variant listed above: Thomas Freeland who settled in New Hampshire in 1718; Tennant Freeland settled in Philadelphia in 1817; George Freeland settled in Savannah Georgia in 1867.

The Frelin 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: Libera terra liberque animus
Motto Translation: A free land and a free soul.

Sources +

http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/