A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grela family of Poland.
Reg. 6264 · Polish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à deux étoiles d'or en chef et un croiss. du même en p. Cq. cour. C.: un bras arm., brandissant une épée.”
Polandc. 1772
Where the Grela Arms Were Recorded
Mazovia
Map of Poland showing where the Grela arms are recorded
The Grela 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 Grela 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 Grela 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 Grela Family in Poland
The family name Grela has deep roots in the Mazovia region of Poland, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1772. During this period, Mazovia was a central hub of Polish social and agricultural life, and families like the Grelas often lived as independent farmers or members of the local landed gentry. The name itself is thought to be derived from old Slavic linguistic roots, possibly relating to descriptive nicknames used to identify individuals by their physical traits or personality in small village communities. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the local parish systems, which served as the primary way for people to track births, marriages, and deaths in the eighteenth century. By remaining in the Mazovian heartland for generations, the Grela family helped shape the rural landscape and cultural traditions of the region during a time of significant political change in Poland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grel
A dialectal term referring to a small, round object or pebble.
This name
GrelaLikely a descriptive nickname for a person who was short, stout, or round.
also spelled
Grellas
Grella
Related arms
Duchampsimilar arms
Gibonnaissimilar arms
Jamonièresimilar arms
Lenoirsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kozłowska-Studnicka, Jolanta. Struktura społeczna Mazowsza w XVIII wieku (1998)
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych (AGAD), Księgi metrykalne parafii rzymskokatolickich z terenu Mazowsza (1772)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
