Freelyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Freelyn

What does the name Freelyn mean?

The name Freelyn is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It comes 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 Freelyn also originated as the place-name Freeland, a parish in the dioceses of Oxford.

Early Origins of the Freelyn family

The surname Freelyn 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 Freelyn family

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

Freelyn Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Freelyn has undergone many spelling variations, including Freeland, Freeling, Frieland and others.

Early Notables of the Freelyn family

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

Migration of the Freelyn family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Freelyn were among those contributors: 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 Freelyn 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.