A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borkowski family of Germany.
Reg. 6528 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au griffon de gu. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Borkowski Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Borkowski arms are recorded
The Borkowski arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Borkowski arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Borkowski Family in Germany
The surname Borkowski is primarily of Polish origin, typically derived from the word "bork," which refers to a pine forest. Families carrying this name often lived near or worked within these wooded regions, leading to the name being used as a way to identify their home or occupation. While the name is deeply rooted in Polish history, the presence of Borkowski families in Bavaria by 1765 highlights the movement of people across European borders during the eighteenth century. Many families migrated during this era to seek new farmland or to pursue different trades in the growing towns of southern Germany. These early ancestors likely integrated into their new communities while maintaining their distinct family name, which served as a link to their ancestral heritage even as they adapted to the customs of the Bavarian region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Borek
A diminutive form of the Slavic name Borzyslaw meaning battle glory.
This name
BorkowskiA topographic or habitational name referring to someone who lived near a pine forest.
also spelled
Borkowsky
Borkovsky
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
