A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kolakowski family of Austria.
Reg. 5475 · Austrian, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 de gu. à la croix de Lorraine d'arg., à laquelle manque le bras inférieur à dextre; au 2 d'azur à un croiss. d'or, chaque corne sommée d'une étoile du même. Cq. cour. C.: un bras arm., brandissant une épée, le tout au nat. L.: d'arg. et de gu.”
GaliciaGalicia, c. 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 Austria showing where the Kolakowski arms are recorded
The Kolakowski arms were recorded in Galicia, c. 1772.
Galicia was eastern country of large estates and small farming villages, held by families who had been there for a very long time. Land was what entitled a family to arms, and land there rarely changed hands.
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
Galicia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Kolakowski Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Austria when the Kolakowski arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Galicia.
Origin & History of the Kolakowski Family in Austria
The surname Kolakowski is a topographic name that originated in Poland, specifically derived from the village of Kołaki. In the Polish language, adding the suffix "-owski" to a place name typically indicated that a family held land or originated from that specific location. By the time of the First Partition of Poland in 1772, members of the family were well-established in the region of Galicia. During this period, Galicia became a province of the Austrian Empire, which led to more formal record-keeping for families living in the area. These early ancestors were likely part of the landed gentry or local farming communities who helped shape the rural landscape of the region. As the family grew, they spread across different parts of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, maintaining their connection to their ancestral roots through their distinct name.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kola
Derived from the Slavic name Mikolaj meaning victory of the people.
This name
KolakowskiA topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a specific settlement or village.
also spelled
Kulikowsky
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brückner, Aleksander, Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego (1927)
Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw, Metryki koronne (1772)
Rymut, Kazimierz, Nazwiska Polaków: słownik historyczno-etymologiczny (1999)
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
