A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gorski family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1876 · Polish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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 fer-à-cheval d'arg., les bouts en bas, sommé d'un panache de trois pl. d'aut. au nat., et acc. de trois étoiles d'arg., dont 2 accostant le panache et 1 entre les branches du fer-à-cheval. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut. d'arg.”
Polandc. 1772
Where the Gorski Arms Were Recorded
Mazovia
Map of Poland showing where the Gorski arms are recorded
The Gorski 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 Gorski 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 Gorski 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 Gorski Family in Poland
The surname Gorski is a classic example of a topographic name, which means it was derived from the physical landscape where a family lived. In the Polish language, the root word "góra" refers to a mountain or a hill, and the suffix "ski" denotes a connection to a specific place. By the time the family was firmly established in the Mazovia region in 1772, the name likely identified ancestors who lived near a prominent hill or in a village situated on elevated ground. During this period, Mazovia was a central hub of Polish culture and administration, and families with this name were often part of the local landed gentry or independent farmers who took pride in their connection to the land. As the family grew, they became deeply woven into the social fabric of the region, helping to shape the agricultural and community life that defined the Polish heartland for generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à deux phéons de sa., l'un sur l'autre, celui en p. de l'écu ayant la pointe en bas. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut. d'arg.”
GaliciaGalicia, c. 1772
Where the Gorski Arms Were Recorded
Map of Austria showing where the Gorski arms are recorded
The Gorski arms were recorded in Galicia, c. 1772.
Galicia was eastern country of large estates and small farming villages, held by families who had been there for a very long time. Land was what entitled a family to arms, and land there rarely changed hands.
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
Galicia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Gorski Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Poland when the Gorski arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Galicia.
Origin & History of the Gorski Family in Austria
The name Gorski is derived from the Polish word for mountain, which suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors likely lived in or near high-altitude regions. By the time of the First Partition of Poland in 1772, the Gorski family was firmly established in the province of Galicia. When this territory was annexed by the Austrian Empire, the family became subjects of the Habsburg monarchy. This transition integrated the family into a complex administrative system that required careful record-keeping of all citizens. As the region became a crown land of Austria, the Gorski family navigated the social and economic shifts of the late eighteenth century. They lived through a period where the Austrian government began to standardize family names and track populations more closely for tax and military purposes. This era marked a significant turning point for the family as they adapted to the bureaucratic requirements of their new imperial rulers while maintaining their roots in the Galician landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
góra
A Polish word meaning mountain or hill.
This name
GorskiRefers to someone who lived on or near a mountain or hill.
also spelled
Gorsky
Related arms
Dolengasimilar arms
Dombrowasimilar arms
Gromadzkisimilar arms
Gorskyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brückner, Aleksander. Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego. 1927
Krzepela, Józef. Rody ziemiańskie XV i XVI wieku. 1928
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych (Central Archives of Historical Records), Księgi grodzkie warszawskie (Warsaw Castle Books)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
