A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borowski family of Germany.
Reg. 1225 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à un massacre de cerf d'or; aux 2 et 3 d'azur au lion d'or. Sur le tout d'azur à une étoile d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un vol de sa. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Borowski Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Borowski arms are recorded
The Borowski arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Borowski 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Borowski Family in Germany
The surname Borowski is a locational name that originated in the historical region of Silesia. It is derived from the Polish word bor, which refers to a pine forest or a woodland area. Families who took this name were often identified by their connection to specific forest settlements or lands located near wooded regions. By the year 1765, records confirm that members of the Borowski family were well-established within Silesian communities. During this period, the family was deeply integrated into the local social and agricultural structures of the region. As the family grew, they moved across various parts of Central and Eastern Europe, carrying their name as a testament to their ancestral ties to the forested landscapes of their origin.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bor
A Slavic term referring to a pine forest or woodland.
This name
BorowskiA habitational name for someone who lived near or in a pine forest.
also spelled
Borowsky
Borovsky
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Kutschera, Franz, Die Siedlungsgeschichte des schlesischen Raumes, 1937
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Akta stanu cywilnego parafii rzymskokatolickiej w Śląsku, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
lionCourage, strength and royalty
