A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Glinski family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5392 · Polish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“De gu. à une ancre renv. d'or, la trabe et l'anneau remplacés par une croix; au crampon d'arg. en forme de fer-à-cheval carré, les bouts en bas, br. sur l'ancre. Cq. cour. C.: cinq pl. d'aut. d'arg.”
Polandc. 1772
Where the Glinski Arms Were Recorded
Mazovia
Map of Poland showing where the Glinski arms are recorded
The Glinski 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 Glinski 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 Glinski 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 Glinski Family in Poland
The history of the Glinski family is deeply rooted in the historical region of Mazovia, a central area of Poland known for its distinct traditions and noble heritage. By the year 1772, members of the family were well-established within this territory, living as part of the local landowning society. The name itself is topographic in origin, which means it was likely derived from the Polish word glina, meaning clay. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family may have settled in a village with clay-rich soil or near a landscape defined by such geological features. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social and administrative fabric of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. They lived through a period of significant political change as the borders of their homeland shifted during the late eighteenth century. Through their presence in Mazovian records, we can see a family that maintained a consistent connection to their ancestral lands while adapting to the evolving landscape of Polish history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à un croiss. figuré versé, acc. en chef de deux étoiles et en p. d'une flèche en pal, la pointe en haut, le tout d'arg. C.: un vol à l'antique, coupé d'arg. sur azur.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Glinski Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Glinski arms are recorded
The Glinski 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 Poland when the Glinski 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 Glinski Family in Germany
The history of the Glinski family in the German-speaking regions is deeply tied to the historical shifting of borders in Silesia. By 1765, records confirm that family members were established in this region, which was then under the control of the Kingdom of Prussia. The name itself is locational in origin, typically derived from the Polish word for clay or loam, suggesting that the family’s earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent clay deposit or a village named Glina. As the family moved into Silesian territories, they integrated into the local agricultural and administrative systems that defined life in the Prussian East. During this era, the family navigated the complex social changes brought about by the Seven Years' War and the subsequent industrialization of the region. Their presence in Silesia reflects the broader movement of families across Central Europe, where they adapted to new legal and cultural environments while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Glin
A Polish term referring to clay or loamy soil.
This name
GlinskiA topographic surname denoting someone who lived near or worked with clay deposits.
also spelled
Glinsky
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Boniecki, Adam. Herbarz polski: wiadomości historyczno-genealogiczne o rodach szlacheckich. 1903
cross symbolChristian faith and service
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
cross symbolChristian faith and service
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
