A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Look family of Poland.
Reg. 4811 · Polish, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
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 arc tendu d'arg., posé en fasce, encoché d'une flèche du même, posée en pal. Cq. cour. C.: une couronne de laurier de sin., ou trois pl. d'aut. d'arg.”
Polandc. 1772
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Map of Poland showing where the Look arms are recorded
The Look 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 Look 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 Look 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 Look Family in Poland
The family name Look has roots that trace back to the Mazovia region of Poland, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1772. During this period, Mazovia was a central hub of Polish culture and agriculture, and families like the Looks were often linked to the local land and the evolving social structures of the time. The name itself likely developed as a descriptive term or a localized identifier within the village communities of the Vistula River basin. As the family grew, they navigated the complex political shifts of the late eighteenth century, which saw the region undergo significant changes due to the partitions of Poland. By remaining in the Mazovian heartland, early generations of the Look family helped preserve their heritage through the transition from the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth into a new era of European history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Łuk
A curved weapon or tool used for shooting arrows.
This name
LookA topographic or occupational surname referring to an archer or someone living near a curved feature.
also spelled
Luck
Look
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych (Central Archives of Historical Records), Księgi metrykalne parafii rzymskokatolickich z terenu Mazowsza (Parish registers of Roman Catholic parishes in the Mazovia region)
Gloger, Zygmunt, Geografia historyczna ziem dawnej Polski (Historical geography of the lands of old Poland), 1900
Kutrzeba, Stanisław, Historia ustroju Polski w zarysie (An outline of the history of the Polish political system), 1914
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
