List of Polish nobility coats of arms images

Main article: Polish heraldry

Polish heraldry is closely related to the Polish nobility, the szlachta, which has its origins in Middle Ages warriors clans that provided military support to the King, Dukes or overlords.

Exceptions apart, all Polish families belonging to the same noble clan used/use the same coat of arms. Polish original word Herb makes reference to the clan as well to the coat of arms at the same time.

Polish heraldry

Some think the Polish clan does not mean consanguinity nor territoriality, as do the Scottish clan, but only membership in the same warrior group (or a brotherhood of Knights). For that reason, there are hundreds of different families in the same clan and all of them were/are entitled to use the same coat of arms. However, in regards to consanguinity, the matter is far from settled, and the question matters because of historiographical concern to discover the origins of the privileged status by membership in the knights' clan. In the year 1244, Bolesław, Duke of Masovia, identified members of the knights' clan as members of a genealogia:

"I received my good servitors [Raciborz and Albert] from the land of [Great] Poland, and from the clan [genealogia] called Jelito, with my well-disposed knowledge [i.e., consent and encouragement] and the cry [vocitatio], [that is], the godło, [by the name of] Nagody, and I established them in the said land of mine, Masovia, [on the military tenure described elsewhere in the charter]."

The documentation regarding Raciborz and Albert's tenure is the earliest surviving of the use of the clan name and cry defining the honorable status of Polish knights. The names of knightly genealogiae only came to be associated with heraldic devices later in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. The Polish clan name and cry ritualized the ius militare, i.e., the power to command an army; and they had been used some time before 1244 to define knightly status. (Górecki 1992, pp. 183–185). Nevertheless, in daily life, (from the 17th to the 20th centuries), the sense of belonging to a family predominated. This is indicated by the organization of most of Polish armorial, which are arranged by specific families and not by Coat of arms.

It is known that a sense of belonging and attachment to the Clan crest lineage existed in the old Polish consciousness and had survived from the Middle Ages, but it was probably more ceremonial and symbolic than "everyday".

Especially since there were fairly frequent instances, particularly among the poorer nobility in the 19th century, of accidentally (and sometimes deliberately) identifying themselves with various Coat of arms to the heraldry offices of the partitioning countries. In this way, members of a single family sometimes formally became members of various Coats of arms. [1]. Also in those times, Magnate families and some middle Landowners families obtained titles (Prince, Count, Baron) and “own” Coats of arms, (variations of their original Herb), from the partitioning monarchies, the French empire, the Pope and other kingdoms. [2]

Polish Coat of arms have an own name, usually coming from its old War cry or the drawing.

Images of some Polish-Lithuanian Clans coat of arms

• 

  Herb Rzeczpospolitej Obojga Narodow

• 

  Herb Abdank (Awdaniec)

• Achinger herb.svg

  Herb Achinger

• Herb Aksak.jpg

  Herb Aksak

• Herb Alabanda.jpg

  Herb Alabanda

• Allan.png

  Herb Allan

• Herb Amadej.jpg

  Herb Amadej

• POL COA Antoniewicz.svg

  Herb Antoniewicz

• Azulewicz.png

  Herb Azulewicz

• POL COA Bajbuza.svg

  Herb Bajbuza

• Bawola Glowa.svg

  Herb Bawola-Głowa

• Herb Belina.jpg

  Herb Belina

• POL COA Bełty.svg

  Herb Bełty

• POL COA Beztrwogi.svg

  Herb Beztrwogi

• 

  Herb Białynia

• Herb Biberstein.svg

  Herb Biberstein

• POL COA Boenisch.svg

  Herb Boenisch

• Herb Bogoria.jpg

  Herb Bogorya (Bogoria)

• HerbBogoria2.ws.png

  Herb Bogoria, odmiana II

• Bogusz coa.gif

  Herb Bogusz]]

• POL COA Bojcza.svg

  Herb Bojcza

• Herb Boncza.jpg

  Herb Boncza

• Borch1.png

  Herb Borch (Trzy-Kawki, Trzy-Kruki)

• 

  Herb Boreyko

• Herb Bozawola.jpg

  Herb Bożawola

• 140px-Herb Brama.PNG

  Herb Brama

• 140px-Herb Brochwicz.PNG

  Herb Brochwicz

• POL COA Brodzic.svg

  Herb Brodzic

• POL COA Bronic.svg

  Herb Bronic

• POL COA Brzuska.svg

  Herb Brzuska

• HerbChalecki.ws.png

  Herb Chalecki

• HerbCharyton.ws.png

  Herb Charyton

• POL COA Chłędowski.svg

  Herb Chłędowski

• Chodkiewicz.PNG

  Herb Chodkiewicz

• POL COA Cholewa.svg

  Herb Cholewa

• HerbChorynski.ws.png

  Herb Choryński

• POL COA Cielątkowa.svg

  Herb Cielątkowa

• HerbCieleski.ws.png

  Herb Cieleski

• POL COA Ciężosił.svg

  Herb Ciężosił

• Herb Ciolek.jpg

  Herb Ciołek

• 

  Herb Czartoryski (Pogoń Litewska odmiana)

• POL COA Czewoja.svg

  Herb Czewoja

• POL COA Dąb.svg

  Herb Dąb

• POL COA Dąbrowa.svg

  Herb Dąbrowa

• Herb Dąbrowski I.PNG

  Herb Dąbrowski (Dołęga odmiana)

• Herb Debno.jpg

  Herb Dębno

• POL COA Deszpot.svg

  Herb Deszpot

• POL COA Dołęga.svg

  Herb Dołęga

• POL COA Doliwa.svg

  Herb Doliwa

• Drogoslaw.PNG

  Herb Drogosław

• 

  Herb Druck

• Herb Drużyna.PNG

  Herb Drużyna

• Herb Drya.jpg

  Herb Drya

• HerbDrya4.ws.png

  Herb Drya IV

• HerbDrzewica.ws.png

  Herb Drzewica

• Herb Dzialosza.jpg

  Herb Działosza

• Herb Dzik.PNG

  Herb Dzik

• HerbErbs.ws.png

  Herb Erbs

• POL COA Essen.svg

  Herb Essen

• POL COA Estken.svg

  Herb Estken

• POL COA Felseis.svg

  Herb Felseis

• Herb rodowy Finckensteinów.svg

  Herb Finke

• 140px-Herb Fleming.jpg

  Herb Fleming

• HerbFogelfeder.ws.png

  Herb Fogelfeder

• Fornalski.jpg

  Herb Fornalski

• POL CoA Fornalski.png

  Herb Fornalski (Orlica odm.)

• Herb Giejsz.jpg

  Herb Giejszt

• Herb Giejsztor.jpg

  Herb Giejsztor

• Giełgud.PNG

  Herb Giełgud

• 140px-Herb Gieralt.PNG

  Herb Gierałt

• Herb Ginwill.jpg

  Herb Ginwiłł

• Herb Glinski.jpg

  Herb Glinski

• Herb Godziemba.jpg

  Herb Godziemba

• 

  Herb Gozdawa

• Gozdawa.jpg

  Herb Gozdawa

• Herb Grabie.jpg

  Herb Grabie

• POL COA Groty.svg

  Herb Groty

• 

  Herb Gryf

• 

  Herb Grzymała

• Herb Gutak.PNG

  Herb Gutak

• Herb Gwiazdy.jpg

  Herb Gwiazdy

• HerbGwiazdzicz.ws.png

  Herb Gwiaździcz

• Hejking.png

  Herb Hejking

• Herb Helm.PNG

  Herb Hełm

• Herb Herburt.jpg

  Herb Herburt

• POL CoA Hilchen.png

  Herb Hilchen

• HerbHilzen.ws.png

  Herb Hilzen

• Herb Hipocentaur.jpg

  Herb Hipocentaur

• HerbHodyc.ws.png

  Herb Hodyc

• POL COA Hołownia.svg

  Herb Hołownia

• HołowniaII POL CoA.png

  Herb Hołownia II

• POL COA Hornowski.svg

  Herb Hornowski

• Herb Hozyusz.jpg

  Herb Hozyusz

• HerbHusarzewski.ws.png

  Herb Husarzewski

• HerbHutor.ws.png

  Herb Hutor

• HerbJakimowicz.ws.png

  Herb Jakimowicz

• Herb Janina.jpg

  Herb Janina

• POL COA Jasieńczyk.svg

  Herb Jasieńczyk

• Herb Jastrzebiec.jpg

  Herb Jastrzębiec

• Jelita herb.svg

  Herb Jelita (Koźlarogi, Koźlerogi, Nagody)

• Herb Jez.png

  Herb Jeż

• HerbJodzieszko.ws.png

  Herb Jodzieszko

• 

  Herb Junosza

• Herb Kalinowa.PNG

  Herb Kalinowa

• HerbKarega.ws.png

  Herb Karęga

• HerbKarnickiI.ws.png

  Herb Karnicki I

• HerbKarnickiII.ws.png

  Herb Karnicki II

• HerbKarp.ws.png

  Herb Karp

• 

  Herb Kierdeja

• POL COA Klamry.svg

  Herb Klamry

• Herb Komar.jpg

  Herb Komar

• Herb Kopacz.jpg

  Herb Kopacz

• POL COA Kopaszyna.svg

  Herb Kopaszyna

• 

  Herb Korab

• Herb Korczak.jpg

  Herb Korczak

• HerbKorczyk.ws.png

  Herb Korczyk

• HerbKordysz.ws.png

  Herb Kordysz

• Herb Korsak.jpg

  Herb Korsak

• Herb Korwin.jpg

  Herb Korwin (Ślepowron odmiana)

• 

  Herb Korybut

• Herb Kosciesza.jpg

  Herb Kościesza

• POL COA Kostrowiec I.svg

  Herb Kostrowiec I

• POL COA Kostrowiec II.svg

  Herb Kostrowiec II

• POL COA Kot Morski.svg

  Herb Kot-Morski

• Herb Kotwica.jpg

  Herb Kotwica

• HerbKotwicz.jpg

  Herb Kotwicz

• Herb Kownia.jpg

  Herb Kownia

• Herb Kozlowski.jpg

  Herb Kozłowski

• HerbKronwald.ws.png

  Herb Kronwald

• HerbKruzer.ws.png

  Herb Kruzer

• Herb Kryszpin.jpg

  Herb Kryszpin

• Herb Krzywda.jpg

  Herb Krzywda

• Herb Ksiezyc.jpg

  Herb Księżyc

• HerbKujk.ws.png

  Herb Kujk

• HerbKulikowski.ws.png

  Herb Kulikowski

• HerbKulak.ws.png

  Herb Kułak

• 

  Herb Kur

• POL COA Kur II.svg

  Herb Kur II

• Herb Kusza.jpg

  Herb Kusza

• Herb Kuszaba.jpg

  Herb Kuszaba

• 

  Herb Łabędź

• Lachnicki herb.svg

  Herb Lachnicki

• Herb Larysza.jpg

  Herb Larysza

• 

  Herb Leliwa

• Herb Leszczyc.jpg

  Herb Leszczyc

• 

  Herb Lis

• 

  Herb Łodzia

• Herb Lubicz1.jpg

  Herb Lubicz

• Herb Luk.jpg

  Herb Łuk

• POL COA Madrostki.svg

  Herb Mądrostki

• Herb Masalski Ksiaze III.svg

  Herb Masalski ks. III

• Miller CoA.png

  Herb Miller

• Herb Mogila.jpg

  Herb Mogiła

• Herb Nabram.jpg

  Herb Nabram

• Herb Nalecz.jpg

  Herb Nałęcz

• Herb Nieczuja.jpg

  Herb Nieczuja

• Herb Niesobia.svg

  Herb Niesobia

• Herb Nowina.jpg

  Herb Nowina

• HerbOdrowaz.jpg

  Herb Odrowąż

• Herb Odwaga.jpg

  Herb Odwaga

• POL COA Odyniec.svg

  Herb Odyniec

• Herb Ogonczyk.jpg

  Herb Ogończyk

• Herb Oksza.jpg

  Herb Oksza

• Herb Orda.jpg

  Herb Orda

• POL COA Orla.svg

  Herb Orla

• Herb Osek.jpg

  Herb Osek

• Herb Ossorya.jpg

  Herb Ossorya

• 

  Herb Ostoja

• Herb Ostroga.jpg

  Herb Ostroga

• 

  Herb Ostrogski

• POL COA Piastowie.svg

  Herb Piastów

• Herb Pierzchala.jpg

  Herb Pierzchała

• 

  Herb Pilawa

• 

  Herb Piłsudski

• POL COA Pobog.svg

  Herb Pobóg

• 

  Herb Pogoń Litewska

• Herb Pogon Ruska.jpg

  Herb Pogoń Ruska

• Herb Polkozic.jpg

  Herb Półkozic

• Herb Pomian.jpg

  Herb Pomian

• POL COA Poraj.svg

  Herb Poraj

• Herb Poronia.jpg

  Herb Poronia

• POL CoA Orlica.svg

  Herb Pół Orła

• 140px-Herb Pozniak.PNG

  Herb Późniak

• 

  Herb Prus I

• Herb Prus II.jpg

  Herb Pus II (Wilczekosy)

• Herb Prus III.svg

  Herb Prus III

• POL COA Przegonia.svg

  Herb Przegonia

• POL COA Przerowa.svg

  Herb Przerowa

• Herb Przyjaciel.jpg

  Herb Przyjaciel

• Puchala.svg

  Herb Puchała

• 

  Herb Radwan

• Herb Radzislaw.jpg

  Herb Radzislaw

• Herb Radziwiłłów.JPG

  Herb Radziwiłł (Trąby odmiana)

• POL COA Rawicz.svg

  Herb Rawicz

• Herb Roch III.jpg

  Herb Roch III

• 

  Herb Rogala

• Herb Rola.jpg

  Herb Rola

• Herb Rozmiar.jpg

  Herb Rozmiar

• Herb Samson.jpg

  Herb Samson

• 

  Herb Sapieha (Lis odmiana)

• Herb Sas.jpg

  Herb Sas

• 

  Sas II

• HerbSiekierz.ws.png

  Herb Siekierz

• Skarbomierz.png

  Herb Skarbomierz

• Herb Slepowron.jpg

  Herb Ślepowron (Bujno, Korwin)

• POL COA Sołtyk.svg

  Herb Sołtyk

• 

  Herb Starykoń

• Herb Straszyński 1.svg

  Herb Straszyński

• Herb Strzemie.jpg

  Herb Strzemię

• Herb Suchekomnaty.png

  Herb Suchekomnaty

• 

  Herb Sulima

• Herb Swiat.jpg

  Herb Świąt

• Herb Swienczyc.jpg

  Herb Świeńczyc

• Herb Swierczek.jpg

  Herb Świerczek

• Herb Swinka.jpg

  Herb Świnka

• Herb Syrokomla.jpg

  Herb Syrokomla

• HerbSzeliga.ws.png

  Herb Szeliga

• Herb Szembek.PNG

  Herb Szembek

• Herb Szreniawa.jpg

  Herb Szreniawa

• POL COA Tarnawa.svg

  Herb Tarnawa

• POL COA Tępa Podkowa.svg

  Herb Tępa-Podkowa

• Herb Topor.jpg

  Herb Topór

• Herb Traby.jpg

  Herb Trąby

• HerbTrestka.ws.png

  Herb Trestka

• Herb Trójstrzał.png

  Herb Trójstrzał

• POL COA Trzaska.svg

  Herb Trzaska

• Herb Trzy Gwiazdy.png

  Herb Trzy-Gwiazdy

• HerbTrzywdar.ws.png

  Herb Trzywdar

• Herb Wadwicz.jpg

  Herb Wadwicz

• Herb Waga.jpg

  Herb Waga

• Herb Warnia.jpg

  Herb Warnia

• 

  Herb Wąż

• Herb Wczele.jpg

  Herb Wczele

• 

  Herb Wieniawa

• Herb Wierzbna.jpg

  Herb Wierzbna

• Wilcza Głowa herb Klejna.jpg

  Herb Wilcza-Głowa

• Herb Wolf 1.png

  Herb Wolf

• HerbWysocki.ws.png

  Herb Wysocki

• Herb Wyssogota.jpg

  Herb Wyssogota

• POL COA Zabawa.svg

  Herb Zabawa

• Herb Zadora.jpg

  Herb Zadora

• POL COA Zagloba.svg

  Herb Zagłoba

• Herb Zaremba.jpg

  Herb Zaremba

• Herb Zerwikaptur.jpg

  Herb Zerwikaptur

• POL COA Zetynian.svg

  Herb Zetynian

• POL COA Zgraja.svg

  Herb Zgraja (Janina odmiana)

Images of some Personal coat of arms

As all rules have exceptions...

• POL COA Janusz I Starszy.svg

  Duke of Masovia Janusz I of Warsaw (c.1340 – 1429)

• 

  Prince Józef Antoni Poniatowski coat of arms as Marshal of France

• 

  Alexandre Joseph Count Colonna-Walewski coat of arms of the French empire

• POL COA Wałęsa.png

  Lech Wałęsa personal granted coat of arms by the Kingdom of Sweden

See also

• Coat of arms
• Heraldry
• History of Poland
• List of Polish coats of arms
• Szlachta
• Polish name
• Polish clans

Further reading

• Tadeusz Gajl, "Herby szlacheckie Rzeczypospolitej Obojga Narodow", Gdansk, 2003
• Polish Coats of Arms listing (Polish)
• Armorial