A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grella family of Poland.
Reg. 4050 · 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 Grella Arms Were Recorded
Mazovia
Map of Poland showing where the Grella arms are recorded
The Grella 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 Grella 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 Grella 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 Grella Family in Poland
The Grella family name traces its roots to the Mazovia region of Poland, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1772. During this period, Mazovia was a central hub of Polish culture and agricultural life, situated near the growing influence of Warsaw. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they worked the land or engaged in local trade. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects or nicknames common to the Slavic populations living along the Vistula River. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, navigating the significant political changes that swept through Poland during the late eighteenth century. By maintaining their presence in the region, the early Grella ancestors helped establish a lasting legacy that persisted through generations of Polish history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grel
A dialectal term referring to a small, round object or pebble.
This name
GrellaA topographic or descriptive surname likely denoting someone who lived near stony ground.
also spelled
Grellas
Grella
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 the Mazovia region)
Dworzaczek, Włodzimierz, Teki Dworzaczka: Materiały historyczno-genealogiczne do dziejów szlachty wielkopolskiej (Dworzaczek Files: Historical and genealogical materials for the history of the Greater Poland nobility), 1995
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
