A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kosciesza family of Poland.
Reg. 9877 · Polish, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
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 un fer de flèche, posé en pal, le fût croisé d'une petite traverse, et le pied fendu en forme de chevron, le tout d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: cinq pl. d'aut., alt. de gu. et d'arg.”
Polandc. 1772
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Map of Poland showing where the Kosciesza arms are recorded
The Kosciesza 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 Kosciesza 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 Kosciesza 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 Kosciesza Family in Poland
The Kosciesza family name is deeply rooted in the history of the Mazovia region of Poland. By the year 1772, members of this family were well established within the local social structure of this central province. During this period, Mazovia was a center of agricultural life and political activity, and families like the Koscieszas often played significant roles in the development of their local communities. The name itself reflects the linguistic traditions of the region, evolving alongside the changing borders and social shifts of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. As the family grew, they became part of the fabric of Mazovian society, contributing to the local economy and the preservation of regional customs for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kościesza
Derived from the Old Polish verb kościć meaning to bone or harden.
This name
KoscieszaRefers to a person of hardened character or one who possesses great physical strength and resilience.
also spelled
Koshiesha
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gloger, Zygmunt. Geografia historyczna ziem dawnej Polski. 1900
Pawiński, Adolf. Mazowsze. 1892
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych w Warszawie (AGAD), Księgi grodzkie warszawskie
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
