A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kerwin family of Poland.
Reg. 4516 · Polish, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ravenConstancy and divine providence
Colours
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)
“De gu. à un corbeau de sa., tenant en son bec une bague d'or et perché sur un tronc écoté du même, posé en fasce. Cq. cour. C.: cinq pl. d'aut., alt. de gu. et d'or.”
Polandc. 1772
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Poland showing where the Kerwin arms are recorded
The Kerwin 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 Kerwin 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 Kerwin 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 Kerwin Family in Poland
The family name Kerwin has deep roots that connect to the complex history of the Mazovia region in Poland. By the year 1772, members of the family were already established residents in this area, which served as a central hub for Polish culture and politics. During this period, Mazovia was undergoing significant social changes due to the shifting borders of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Families living there often worked as landowners or skilled tradespeople who helped shape the local economy. The name itself reflects the blend of linguistic traditions common in Central Europe, where surnames often evolved to describe a person’s occupation or their specific place of origin. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the agricultural and civic life that defined the Mazovian landscape for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cern
A Slavic root referring to the color black or dark.
This name
KerwinA surname derived from the Old Polish term for someone with dark hair or a dark complexion.
also spelled
Korwyn
Korvin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gieysztor, Aleksander. Dzieje Mazowsza. 1994
Pazdur, Jan. Zarys historii Mazowsza. 1959
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych, Księgi metrykalne parafii mazowieckich
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
ravenConstancy and divine providence
ravenConstancy and divine providence
