A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kara family of Poland.
Reg. 8063 · Polish, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 un coeur d'or, percé d'une flèche d'arg., en barre, la pointe en bas. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut.”
Polandc. 1772
Where the Kara Arms Were Recorded
Mazovia
Map of Poland showing where the Kara arms are recorded
The Kara 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 Kara 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 Kara 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 Kara Family in Poland
The surname Kara carries a deep history rooted in the linguistic and cultural landscape of Central Europe. In the Turkic languages, the word kara translates to black, which often served as a descriptive nickname for a person with dark hair or a stern personality. By the time the family was documented in the Mazovia region in 1772, the name had already transitioned from a simple descriptor into a stable hereditary surname. Mazovia was a vital cultural crossroads during the eighteenth century, and families living there were often shaped by the shifting borders and agricultural traditions of the Polish plains. The presence of the Kara name in these early records suggests that the family was well-established within the local community, likely participating in the rural economy or the administrative life of the region during a period of significant political change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
kara
A Turkic term meaning black or dark in color.
This name
KaraRefers to a person with dark hair or a dark complexion.
also spelled
Karae
Karaer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Górzyński, S., Nazwiska szlachty polskiej, 2007
Rymut, K., Nazwiska Polaków: Słownik historyczno-etymologiczny, 1999
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych w Warszawie, Metryki parafialne z terenu Mazowsza
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
