A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ciborowski family of Germany.
Reg. 8540 · 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
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Map of Germany showing where the Ciborowski arms are recorded
The Ciborowski 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 Ciborowski 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 Ciborowski Family in Germany
The Ciborowski family name originates from the Slavic root word "cibor," which historically relates to specific types of vessels or containers, often suggesting that early ancestors may have been craftsmen or merchants involved in trade. By 1765, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the Silesia region, a territory known for its complex history of shifting borders and industrial growth between Poland, Prussia, and the Austrian Empire. During this period, the family likely lived in a society defined by agricultural life and the developing mining industry that characterized the Silesian landscape. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, moving through the region as laborers, landowners, or skilled workers who adapted to the changing political landscape of the eighteenth century. Their presence in Silesia reflects the broader movement of families who sought stability and opportunity in the heart of Central Europe during a time of significant transition.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cibor
Derived from the Germanic name Sibert meaning bright victory.
This name
CiborowskiA habitational name referring to someone from the village of Ciborowo.
also spelled
Borowsky
Borovsky
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu (State Archive in Wrocław), Akta stanu cywilnego parafii rzymskokatolickiej w powiecie śląskim (Civil status records of the Roman Catholic parish in the Silesian district)
Brückner, Aleksander, Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego (Etymological Dictionary of the Polish Language), 1927
Kutrzeba, Stanisław, Historia ustroju Polski w zarysie (An Outline of the History of the Polish Political System), 1905
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
