A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Erbs family of Poland.
Reg. 4645 · Polish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à la bande de gu., ch. de trois boules d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un croiss. d'or, surm. d'une étoile du même. Cq. cour. C.: un vol de sa., l'aile dextre ch. d'une barre de gu. et l'aile sen. d'une bande du même, surch. chacune de trois boules d'arg. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
PolandCracovie, c. 1753
Where the Erbs Arms Were Recorded
Cracovie
Map of Poland showing where the Erbs arms are recorded
The Erbs arms were recorded in Cracovie, c. 1753.
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
Cracovie
Town
Cracovie
First recorded
1753
Granting Authority for the Erbs 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.
Augustus III of Poland
Sovereign of the period
Augustus III of Poland
1733–1763
Reigning in Poland when the Erbs 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 Erbs Family in Poland
The family name Erbs has deep roots in Central Europe, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of Cracow by 1753. The name itself is derived from the German word for pea, which often served as a descriptive nickname for a person who grew or sold legumes in a marketplace. During the eighteenth century, Cracow was a vibrant hub of trade and cultural exchange, making it a likely place for families with German-speaking origins to settle and integrate into the local economy. As the family established themselves in the region, they became part of the complex social fabric of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Over time, the name evolved alongside the shifting borders and languages of the area, reflecting the movement of people across the European continent during the late modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Erbse
A German term referring to the pea plant or its seeds.
This name
ErbsA topographic or occupational name for someone who grew or sold peas.
also spelled
Erbs
Grochowsky
Erbs-Grochowsky
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archiwum Narodowe w Krakowie (National Archives in Cracow), Akta miasta Krakowa (Records of the City of Cracow)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1982
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
