A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lebedev family of Russia.
Reg. 2649 · Russian, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un cygne au nat., nageant sur une mer du même et tenant en son bec une couronne de laurier de sin.; au chef d'azur, ch. de la couronne impériale de Russie au nat. C.: trois pl. d'aut. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Russiac. 1784
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Map of Russia showing where the Lebedev arms are recorded
The Lebedev arms were recorded in Russia, c. 1784.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Moscow.
Moscow held the Russian court, and rank there came from service rather than land. Families who served the Tsar were entered in the registers of nobility, and that entry is where their arms are 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Russia in this period.
Catherine II of Russia
Sovereign of the period
Catherine II of Russia
1762–1796
Reigning in Russia when the Lebedev arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Russia
Russian heraldry was strictly tied to the nobility and the state service system. Families proved their ancient status or earned new rank to receive an official grant from the Tsar. These symbols were then inherited by all legitimate children of the noble line. If a family lacked proof of their status, they were often excluded from the official records entirely.
Granting authority
The Herald Master's Office acted as the central state body that strictly regulated and verified all noble heraldic symbols.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal state grant or by proving their noble status to the government authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms were officially recorded in the General Armorial of the Noble Families of the Russian Empire starting in 1797.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Russia.
Origin & History of the Lebedev Family in Russia
The surname Lebedev is derived from the Russian word *lebed*, which means swan. In early Russian naming traditions, people often received nicknames based on birds or animals that represented positive traits like grace, loyalty, or beauty. By the time the Lebedev family was documented living in Moscow in 1784, the name had already transitioned from a descriptive nickname into a formal hereditary surname. Families with this name were often part of the growing urban population in Moscow during the late eighteenth century. Because the swan was a common symbol in Russian folklore and literature, the name likely held a sense of prestige or simple endearment among the local community. As the family established their roots in the city, they became part of the social fabric that defined Moscow before the major historical shifts of the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
lebed
A large aquatic bird with a long neck known as a swan.
This name
LebedevA patronymic surname derived from the word for swan, often denoting a graceful person.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Unbegaun, Boris Ottokar, Russian Surnames, 1972
Petrovsky, Nikolai Aleksandrovich, Slovar russkikh lichnykh imen (Dictionary of Russian Personal Names), 1966
Central State Archive of the City of Moscow (Tsam), Fond 203: Moscow Spiritual Consistory
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
