Armorial of Polish nobility

Polish heraldry is a distinct system characteristic of the Polish nobility (szlachta). It originated from the medieval clans of knights and warriors who provided military service to the monarch or regional dukes. Unlike many Western European heraldic traditions, where a coat of arms is usually tied to a single family line, the Polish system is built upon the heraldic clan.

With few exceptions, all families belonging to the same heraldic clan bear an identical coat of arms. In the Polish language, the term herb refers simultaneously to the heraldic device itself and the corporate identity of the clan. This collective ownership meant that hundreds of families, often with different surnames and residing in disparate regions, could share the same armorial bearings and clan name.

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