A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Starzyk family of Poland.
Reg. 4921 · Polish, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur à un croiss. cont. d'arg.; au 2 d'arg. à neuf larmes d'azur, 4, 3 et 2. Cq. cour. C.: un écusson parti: a. d'arg. à neuf larmes d'azur, 4, 3 et 2; b. d'azur à trois croiss. tournés d'arg.; l'écusson accosté de deux plumes de faisan, d'azur et d'arg.”
LivoniaEsthonie · Livonia, c. 1772
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Map of Poland showing where the Starzyk arms are recorded
The Starzyk arms were recorded in Livonia, c. 1772.
Livonia was Baltic country held by a small number of landed families who kept their estates for centuries. Land there passed down whole rather than being divided, and long unbroken tenure is what fills a register.
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
Livonia
Town
Esthonie
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Starzyk 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 Starzyk 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 Livonia.
Origin & History of the Starzyk Family in Poland
The surname Starzyk originates from the Slavic word *stary*, which translates to "old" or "elder." Historically, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname for a respected village elder or the oldest member of a family group. By the year 1772, records confirm that members of the Starzyk family were established in the region of Livonia. This area, which spans parts of modern-day Latvia and Estonia, was a complex crossroads of cultures and languages during the eighteenth century. Families living in this territory were often influenced by the shifting borders of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the expanding Russian Empire. As these early ancestors navigated life in Livonia, the name served as a link to their heritage and their status within their local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
stary
An adjective meaning old or aged in the Polish language.
This name
StarzykA descriptive surname referring to an elder, an old man, or a senior member of a community.
also spelled
Strick
Strik
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kopaliński, Władysław, Słownik mitów i tradycji kultury, 1985
Rymut, Kazimierz, Nazwiska Polaków: słownik historyczno-etymologiczny, 1999
Latvian State Historical Archives, Fond 235: Livland Evangelical Lutheran Church Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
