A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ostrovsky family of Austria.
Reg. 3553 · Austrian, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur à un fer-à-cheval d'arg., les bouts en bas, sommé d'un croissette d'or; au 2 les armes de Korab. Cq. cour. C.: un demi-vol d'arg., percé d'une flèche d'or, empennée d'arg., en fasce, la pointe à sen.”
GaliciaGalicia, c. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Ostrovsky arms are recorded
The Ostrovsky 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 Ostrovsky 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 Ostrovsky 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 Ostrovsky Family in Austria
The surname Ostrovsky is a toponymic name, which means it was originally derived from a specific place. In the Slavic languages, the root word "ostrov" translates to "island." Families who took this name often lived on an island or near a distinct piece of land surrounded by water or marshes. By 1772, when the region of Galicia was incorporated into the Austrian Empire, the Ostrovsky family was already established in the area. During this period, the Austrian government began requiring permanent surnames for tax and census purposes. Many families in Galicia adopted names based on their local geography to distinguish themselves within their communities. Because Galicia was a crossroads of different cultures and languages, the name became a way to track family roots back to these specific rural landscapes. Over time, the name spread as members of the family moved from these original settlements into larger towns and cities across Eastern Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ostrov
Slavic word meaning island or river island.
This name
OstrovskyRefers to someone who lived on an island or near a river island.
also spelled
Ostrowsky
Ostrowske
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Russian Empire. 1993
Magocsi, Paul Robert. Galicia: A Historical Survey and Bibliographic Guide. 1983
Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv (Tsentralnyi derzhavnyi istorychnyi arkhiv Ukrainy u Lvovi), Fond 24 (Austrian Administrative Records of Galicia)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
cross symbolChristian faith and service
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
cross symbolChristian faith and service
