Genealogy /
Wojcik, Zielinski, Markiewicz - meaning of symbols found in surname crests/coat of arms [10]
WÓJCIK: According to Polish armorial resources, no Wójcik ever achieved membership in a noble clan, hence no coat of arms accompanies this surname. If you have been led to believe otherwise, that could mean that:
1) Wójcik/Wojcik did enjoy gentry status in the armorial system of a neighbouring country;
2) Some Pole named Wójcik falsely claimed szlachta status (the lack of a Polish royal heraldic office authenticating noble rank was conducive to such deceptions):
3) A Wójcik coat of arms is being peddled by one of the online heraldry mills that come up with an armorial emblem for most everyone so as not to lose a customer.
ŻELIŃSKI: Noble bearers of the Żeliński surname belonged to the Ciołek clan whose armorial device depicts a red bullock/male calf on a white shield, the emblem being replicated in the crest (upper section) above the crowned knight's helmet.
MARKIEWICZ: A much-titled family whose szlachta members belonged to 10 different noble clans including Jastrzębiec, £abędź, Lubicz, Odrowąż and Ślepowron. There was even an own-name coat of arms.*
*Polish heraldry was largely based on clans, not on surnames. Own-name coats of arms are relatively uncommon. The Markiewicz heraldic emblem shows a white crowned eagle on the red upper half of the shield and three gold ears of grain on the white lower half. In the crest the same eagle is shown holding the three ears in sits beak.
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