Gryf coat of arms

Gryf (Polish for "Griffin"), also known as Jaxa, is a Polish coat of arms that was used by many noble families in medieval Poland and later under the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, branches of the original medieval Gryfita-Świebodzic family as well as families connected with the Clan by adoption at ennoblement or even by error.

Legend
Leszek III, legendary Prince of Poland, 805?, had 14 sons, of whom the oldest was Popiel I his successor to the throne. Leszek assured special parts of the realm to the remaining sons within his lifetime, obligating them by oath not to make the sovereignty of Popiel contentious. This ensured the safety and liberty of the country with a united army.
 * The other sons:
 * Barnim and Bogdal kept the principality of Pomerania.
 * Kazimierz and Władysław, the principality of Kashubia
 * Vratislav, the island Rügen, with Przybysław.
 * Cieszymierz and Otto, the Lusatia (Łużyce),
 * Ziemowit and Zemornyst, the land of Brandenburg (Brenna & Stodorania).
 * Jaxa with another brother, the Meissen county (Miśnia), in Lusatia (Łużyce)

All these sons united under one war flag given by Leszek. The Lechites originally had a young lion on its war flag, then around 550, the white eagle appeared as a realm flag. The combination of both animal pictures into one figure has developed. Hence a lion's body and an eagle's head, which appears on and above the Gryf shield.



Notable bearers
Notable bearers of this coat of arms have included:


 * Gryfici (Świebodzice)
 * Jaksa Gryfita
 * Andrzej Gryfita
 * House of Branicki
 * Jan Klemens Branicki
 * Jan Klemens Branicki, Marshall of the Crown Tribunal
 * Stefan Mikołaj Branicki, Voivode of Podlasie
 * Grzegorz Branicki
 * Anna Branicka
 * House of Mielecki
 * Mikołaj Mielecki
 * Zofia Mielecka
 * Kazimierz Małachowski
 * Janisław I Ossowski, Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland
 * Józef Leśniewski, general
 * Abraham z Jaxów Chamiec, first known owner of Międzyrzec Podlaski
 * Bogdan Jaksa-Ronikier, writer and publicist
 * Aleksander Krzysztof Chodkiewicz, Bishop of Kieś and Canon of Wilno
 * Zygmunt Rożen, knight
 * Mateusz Michał Bąkowski, Stolnik of Halicz
 * Szymon Konarski, heraldist
 * House of Otwinowski
 * Erazm Otwinowski poet and Socinian activist
 * Franciszek Jaxa Otwinowski, member of the Sejm
 * August Otwinowski, Burgrave of Kraków

Related coat of arms

 * Chodkiewicz Coat of Arms
 * Coat of arms of Latvia
 * Coat of arms of Ainaži