A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gieralt family of Poland.
Reg. 5681 · Polish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à une escarboucle d'arg., les extrémités coupées, acc. de quatre bes. d'or, 1, 2 et 1. Cq. cour. C.: un coq de bruyère ess., au nat.”
Polandc. 1772
Where the Gieralt Arms Were Recorded
Mazovia
Map of Poland showing where the Gieralt arms are recorded
The Gieralt 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 Gieralt 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 Gieralt 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 Gieralt Family in Poland
The family name Gieralt traces its roots to the historical region of Mazovia, where members of the family were firmly established by 1772. The name itself is derived from the Old Polish personal name Gierałt, which was a common way for families to identify their lineage through a respected ancestor. During the late eighteenth century, the people bearing this name were often part of the local landed gentry or independent farmers who played a vital role in the agricultural development of the Polish heartland. As the region experienced significant political shifts during this era, the Gieralt family remained deeply connected to their local communities. They maintained their identity through church records and land deeds that documented their daily lives and family growth. This history reflects the broader experience of many families in central Poland who preserved their heritage through generations of social and political change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
This name
GieraltA Polish surname signifying a brave warrior or one skilled with a spear.
also spelled
Gierald
Geeralt
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Krzysztof Górski, Pomorze w dobie wojny trzynastoletniej, 1985
Kazimierz Rymut, Nazwiska Polaków: słownik historyczno-etymologiczny, 1999
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych (AGAD), Metryki Koronne
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
