A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gozdawa family of Poland.
Reg. 2572 · Polish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
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)
“De gu. à deux fleurs-de-lis au pied coupé d'arg., l'une sur l'autre, les pieds opposés et réunis. Cq. cour. C.: une queue de paon au nat., ch. des deux fleurs-de-lis réunies.”
Polandc. 1772
Where the Gozdawa Arms Were Recorded
Mazovia
Map of Poland showing where the Gozdawa arms are recorded
The Gozdawa 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 Gozdawa 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 Gozdawa 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 Gozdawa Family in Poland
The history of the Gozdawa family is deeply connected to the historical region of Mazovia in central Poland. By the year 1772, records confirm that members of this family were already well-established residents within the local community. During this period, Mazovia was a landscape defined by small noble estates and agricultural life, where families like the Gozdawas played a role in the social and economic development of the area. The name itself is thought to be linked to the geography of the Polish lowlands, reflecting a long-standing presence in the fertile plains surrounding the Vistula River. As the family grew, they became part of the fabric of regional life, participating in the local traditions and administrative changes that shaped the territory throughout the late eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
gozd
Old Polish term for a dense forest or woodland.
This name
GozdawaRefers to a person originating from or living within a thick, wild forest.
also spelled
Gozdava
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kasper Niesiecki, Herbarz Polski, 1839
Adam Boniecki, Herbarz Polski, 1903
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych (AGAD), Metryka Koronna
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
