A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kostka family of Poland.
Reg. 0387 · Polish, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'azur à un mur crén. de gu., occupant la moitié inférieure de l'écu; au lion naiss. d'or, mouv. des créneaux dudit mur. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, iss. L. d'or et d'azur.”
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 Kostka arms are recorded
The Kostka 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 Kostka 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 Kostka 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 Kostka Family in Poland
The family name Kostka has deep roots in the history of Poland, with its origins tied to the Slavic linguistic tradition where it functioned as a descriptive nickname. Historically, the name is associated with the region of Mazovia, where members of the family were well-established by the late eighteenth century. During this period, families in Mazovia often lived in small agricultural settlements or served in local administrative roles. The name itself is thought to derive from the Old Polish word for a bone or a die, which may have originally referred to a person’s physical stature or perhaps their association with games of chance. By 1772, the Kostka family was already a part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the local culture and economy during a time of significant political transition for the Polish lands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Konstantinus
Derived from the Latin word for constant, steadfast, or unchanging.
This name
KostkaA diminutive form of Constantine, signifying a person who is firm, enduring, and faithful.
also spelled
Kostka
Skotowski
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
