A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Radwan family of Poland.
Reg. 8707 · Polish, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or à un gonfanon de trois pièces de gu., frangé d'arg., sommé d'une croisette d'arg., entre deux annelets du même aux extrémités. Cq. cour. C.: cinq pl. d'aut., alt. de gu. et d'or.”
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 Radwan arms are recorded
The Radwan 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 Radwan 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 Radwan 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 Radwan Family in Poland
The Radwan family name has deep roots in the historical landscape of Poland, particularly within the region of Mazovia. By the year 1772, records confirm that members of this family were already established residents in the area. The name itself is derived from the Old Polish word rad, which means glad or joyful, and the suffix wan, which was commonly used to form personal names during the medieval period. This suggests that the name was originally a given name for an ancestor who was known for a cheerful or willing disposition. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, likely working as landowners or participants in the rural economy that defined the Mazovian plains. Their presence in 1772 places them in a time of great transition for Poland, reflecting a long-standing connection to the traditions and geography of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rad
Slavic element meaning happy, glad, or willing.
This name
RadwanDerived from Slavic roots meaning one who is joyful, willing, or satisfied.
also spelled
Radvan
Radwahn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Krzysztof Rymut, Nazwiska Polaków: Słownik historyczno-etymologiczny, 1999
Aleksander Brückner, Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego, 1927
Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych w Warszawie, Księgi metrykalne parafii mazowieckich, 1772
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
cross symbolChristian faith and service
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
