A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grzymala family of Poland.
Reg. 6560 · Polish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'or à un château de trois tours de gu., ouv. du champ, la herse levée de sa., sur une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: le château, devant un panache de cinq pl. d'aut. d'arg.”
Polandc. 1772
Where the Grzymala Arms Were Recorded
Mazovia
Map of Poland showing where the Grzymala arms are recorded
The Grzymala 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 Grzymala 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 Grzymala 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 Grzymala Family in Poland
The history of the Grzymala family is deeply rooted in the historical region of Mazovia, where members of the family were well-established by the late eighteenth century. During this period, the name was associated with families who held land and played active roles in the local social structure of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. As Mazovia served as a central hub for regional administration and agriculture, the family likely participated in the daily economic life of the countryside. By 1772, the Grzymala name was already recognized within the local community, reflecting a long presence in the area that predated the major political shifts occurring in Poland at that time. The family remained connected to the Mazovian landscape for generations, contributing to the development of the region through their involvement in local governance and land management.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grzym
Old Polish verb meaning to thunder or to make a loud noise.
This name
GrzymalaRefers to a person who is thunderous, loud, or associated with the sound of thunder.
also spelled
Gzymala I
Grzymala
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kozłowska-Budkowa, Zofia, Rejestr dokumentów pergaminowych z Archiwum Głównego Akt Dawnych w Warszawie, 1967
Pawiński, Adolf, Polska XVI wieku pod względem geograficzno-statystycznym: Mazowsze, 1895
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych w Warszawie, Księgi grodzkie i ziemskie mazowieckie
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
portcullisProtection of the household, and the guarded gate
