A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gisa family of Poland.
Reg. 7914 · Polish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. au lion léopardé de gu.; au 2 fascé d'azur et d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un léopard de gu.”
Polandc. 1772
Where the Gisa Arms Were Recorded
Mazovia
Map of Poland showing where the Gisa arms are recorded
The Gisa 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 Gisa 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 Gisa 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 Gisa Family in Poland
The family name Gisa has deep roots in the historical region of Mazovia, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1772. During this period, Mazovia was a central part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a landscape defined by vast agricultural plains and a complex social structure. Families like the Gisas often lived in rural villages where they were closely tied to the land and the local parish community. Life in eighteenth-century Mazovia required great resilience, as the region faced significant political shifts and territorial changes during the partitions of Poland. By maintaining their presence in this area, the early Gisa family members contributed to the enduring cultural identity of the Mazovian people. Their history reflects the experiences of many families who navigated the challenges of life in Eastern Europe while preserving their heritage through generations of local tradition.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gisel
Derived from the Germanic word for a hostage or noble pledge.
This name
GisaA Polish surname originating as a diminutive form of names starting with Gis-.
also spelled
Jissa
Gisa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych (Central Archives of Historical Records), Księgi metrykalne parafii rzymskokatolickich z terenu Mazowsza (Parish registers of Roman Catholic parishes in Mazovia)
Archiwum Państwowe w Warszawie (State Archive in Warsaw), Akta stanu cywilnego (Civil status records)
Gloger, Zygmunt, Geografia historyczna ziem dawnej Polski (Historical Geography of the Lands of Old Poland), 1900
Kaczmarczyk, Zdzisław, Mazowsze w dobie przedrozbiorowej (Mazovia in the Pre-Partition Era), 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
