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The German surname Landfried is of patronymic oririn; in other words, it derives its origin from the personal name of the father of the original bearer of the name. The first bearer of the surname Landfried would have been identified as "the son of Landfried", and gradually this name would have been adopted as a hereditary surname regardless of the personal name of the father of each subsequent bearer. The personal name of Landfried is an old Germanic name whose etymological origin can be identified by examining its two distinct elements, "land" and "fried". The initial element, "land", derives from the Gothic "land" and the Old High German "lant" referring, not surprisingly, to "land". This element has been used in personal names ever since the fifth century. The element "fried" stems from the Old High German "fridu" and the Middle High German "vride" indicating "peace" or "safety". The history of this particular element in personal names can be traced back to the fourth century. The concept of "safe (or free) land" took on a special significance during the Middle Ages, when most farmers were obligated to pay dues, consisting perhaps of some of the products of his land, to the Lord of the Manor. A farmer free of such obligation may have called himself Landfried.
Written records of bearers of a form of the name Landfried date back to the twelfth century. One named Lantfridus was a canon at Regensburg in the year 1150. A man by the name of Lantfrid is documented at Kempten in the year 1187. One Eustachius Landfried lived in Ulm around the year 1570. The following blazon of arms was granted to the aforementioned Eustachius Landfried.
BLAZON OF ARMS:
CREST:
ORIGIN:
Bendy sinister of six azure and argent, overall a griffin or, crowned of the same, langued gules.
The griffen of the arms issuing.
GERMANY
Source: The Historical Research Center