A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kirwin family of Poland.
Reg. 6678 · 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
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Map of Poland showing where the Kirwin arms are recorded
The Kirwin 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 Kirwin 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 Kirwin 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 Kirwin Family in Poland
The family name Kirwin has deep roots that connect to the complex history of the Mazovia region in Poland. By 1772, members of the family were already established in this area, which was a central hub for trade and agriculture during the time of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The name likely evolved from local linguistic patterns as families settled into specific villages and took on surnames to distinguish themselves within their communities. Because Mazovia was a crossroads for many different cultures and languages, the family name reflects the blending of traditions that defined the region during the eighteenth century. Life for the family during this period was shaped by the shifting political borders of the era and the daily rhythms of rural life in the Mazovian plains.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Karol
Derived from the Germanic word for a free man.
This name
KirwinA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Karol or Charles.
also spelled
Korwyn
Korvin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gieysztor, Aleksander. Dzieje Mazowsza. 1994
Paziewski, Janusz. Mazowsze w dobie rozbiorów. 1985
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych (Central Archives of Historical Records), Księgi metrykalne parafii mazowieckich (Parish registers of Mazovian parishes)
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
