A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kisiel family of Poland.
Reg. 9206 · Polish, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 une tente d'arg., mouv. de la p., ouverte sur le devant de gu. et sommée d'une croisette d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un château de trois tours de gu.”
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 Kisiel arms are recorded
The Kisiel 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 Kisiel 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 Kisiel 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 Kisiel Family in Poland
The surname Kisiel originates from the Polish word for a traditional sour starch pudding, suggesting that the name likely began as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who either enjoyed the dish or perhaps worked in its production. By 1772, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Mazovia region of Poland. During this period, Mazovia was a central hub of agricultural and social life, and families like the Kisiels were often deeply connected to the local village structures and parish communities. As the family grew, they became part of the regional tapestry of the Polish heartland, living through the significant political shifts that defined the late eighteenth century. Their presence in the area reflects the broader history of rural families who maintained their identity and traditions through generations of local farming and community service.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
kisiel
A traditional Polish sour jelly dessert made from fruit juice.
This name
KisielA nickname for a person who was fond of eating this dish or perhaps a cook.
also spelled
Kysiel
Kisel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Krzysztof Kwaśniewski, Polskie nazwiska, 1990
Kazimierz Rymut, Nazwiska Polaków: Słownik historyczno-etymologiczny, 1999
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych w Warszawie, Księgi metrykalne parafii rzymskokatolickich 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.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
cross symbolChristian faith and service
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
