Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"inheriting liberty," mid-14c., from free (adj.) + born. Old English had freolic (adj.) "free, free-born; glorious, magnificent, noble; beautiful, charming," which became Middle English freli, "a stock epithet of compliment," but which died out, perhaps as the form merged with that of freely (adv.).
Usage examples of "free-born".
There were Free-born soldiers, as well, not so obvious or bold in revealing their presence, but come to March Brume for the same reason.
Free-born airships and would get them close enough to Arborlon and the Ellcrys that the Moric could implement its plan to get closer still.
I am a free-born man, high in the councils of my nation, and anyone who calls me a stinkard is a rotten, no-good, foul-mouthed liar!
Cast not, for tinsel trash and idle show, The precious jewel of thy worth away, To be the chieftain of a free-born race, Bound to thee only by their unbought love, Ready to stand--to fight--to die with thee, Be that thy pride, be that thy noblest boast!