A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borck family of Poland.
Reg. 1721 · Polish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fireZeal and purification
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un panier de fer, rempli de flammes au nat. C.: le meuble de l'écu, entre un vol, d'azur et de gu.”
Polandc. 1772
Where the Borck Arms Were Recorded
Mazovia
Map of Poland showing where the Borck arms are recorded
The Borck arms were recorded in Poland, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Mazovia.
Mazovia held Warsaw, the Polish court and the assemblies where the szlachta met. Poland's nobles were unusually numerous and every one of them bore arms, and Warsaw is where those arms were argued over and recorded.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
Region
Mazovia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Borck Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in Poland when the Borck arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Poland.
Origin & History of the Borck Family in Poland
The family name Borck has deep roots in the historical region of Mazovia, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1772. The name itself is thought to be of Germanic origin, likely derived from the word "burg," which refers to a fortified place or a castle. Over many generations, the family became integrated into the local social fabric of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. During the eighteenth century, the people bearing this name were often connected to the landed gentry or local administration, reflecting the typical movement of families across Northern and Central Europe during that era. As the borders of the region shifted due to political changes, the Borck family maintained their presence in Mazovia, passing down their name through centuries of agricultural and community life. Their history serves as a window into the way families adapted to the evolving landscape of Eastern Europe while preserving their unique identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Borek
A diminutive form of the Slavic word for pine forest.
This name
BorckRefers to someone who lived near or worked within a pine forest.
also spelled
Bork
Related arms
Lauth (von der) - Prussesimilar arms
Procksimilar arms
Borkvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych (AGAD), Księgi grodzkie i ziemskie warszawskie (Warsaw Land and Castle Records)
Dworzaczek, Włodzimierz, Teki Dworzaczka: Materiały historyczno-genealogiczne do dziejów szlachty wielkopolskiej XV-XX wieku (1995)
Niesiecki, Kasper, Herbarz Polski (1839)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fireZeal and purification
fireZeal and purification
