A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Geez family of Poland.
Reg. 2076 · Polish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
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)
“Parti: au 1 de gu. à un demi-vol cont. d'arg.; au 2 de gu, à une demi-croix pattée d'arg., mouv. du parti. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut. d'arg.”
Polandc. 1772
Where the Geez Arms Were Recorded
Mazovia
Map of Poland showing where the Geez arms are recorded
The Geez 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 Geez 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 Geez 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 Geez Family in Poland
The surname Geez carries a rich history rooted in the historical region of Mazovia, where family members were documented as early as 1772. During the late eighteenth century, Mazovia was a central part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a time defined by significant political shifts and social transitions. Families living in this area often navigated a landscape shaped by rural agricultural life and the influence of local nobility. The name likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common to the Slavic populations of the Vistula River basin. As the family established their roots in this territory, they became part of the enduring cultural fabric of central Poland. By studying these early records, we gain a clearer picture of how families like the Geez lived, worked, and maintained their identity during a transformative era in European history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gies
A short form of Germanic names containing the element gisil meaning hostage.
This name
GeezA surname derived from a diminutive or variant of Germanic personal names.
also spelled
Gieisz
Gieys
Gieyszl
Geez
Gies
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kuklo, Cezary, Demografia Rzeczypospolitej przedrozbiorowej, 2009
Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw (Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych), Księgi metrykalne parafii rzymskokatolickich z terenu Mazowsza
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
cross symbolChristian faith and service
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
