Sypniewski (feminine Sypniewska) is a Polish surname centered on the Oder region where families bearing this surname are still found today. Sypniewskis can also be found all over the world, particularly in the United States, Brazil, and Germany.
"Sypniewski" roughly translates as "one who originates from Sypniewo' – (that is from Sypien's settlement). There are several manorial estates which bear the name of Sypniewo or a similar spelling as in the German "Zippnow".
Sypniewski Prince Jozef
Etymology
The etymology of 'Sypien' suggests the use of water in association with the making or use of a clay vessel or fortification and the breeding or capture of fish. In short, the origins suggest a clan that lived either in a fortified place on or near water (rivers/lakes) or who kept game and fisheries. In all likelihood both options apply. Most of the old manorial estates bearing the name Sypniewo are located near or on a lake or river (i.e. Lake Margonin). In German the name is translated as 'Seeort' (place on the lake).
Nobility patent, manorial estates and origins
The Sypniewskis belong to Pomeranian nobility, Polish Szlachta (nobility), Prussian nobility, and later to German and Austrian nobilities (after partition of Poland), and, although mentioned already c. 1390 and earlier (as Siebnitz and/or Zipniv Pomeranian nobility), obtained a formal Polish nobility patent in writing from the king Casimir IV Jagiellon, who granted them the right to keep and use the Odrowąż coat of arms in 1480. Zlota Ksiega Szlachty Polskiej ("Golden Book of Polish Nobility") states that the Sypniewski – Odrowaz arms are said to have come from the Podgórze region, recorded around 1190 (there are still few Sypniewski families owning land and living in this area today). Their further nobility confirmations through Bonifacius Sypniewski is dated in 1483 and confirmed in German Nobility Book. A Jan Sypniewski resettled in the Brzesko-Litewskie province (presently part of Lithuania, back then center of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth), and branches are found in Poznań, Nowy Sącz, and Prussia. Around the 16th century, the Sypniewski family is found living in Greater Poland owning large manorial estates there, and later we find them in West Prussia on the estate of Zmijewie (Kojalowicz, Niesiecki, Goluchowski).
Various other documents found in Polish archives refer to the family and its holdings in and around, what was later to become, the Silesian and Prussian/German/Polish border. On the division of Poland in the 18th century, the Sypniewski family is then also mentioned as Prussian nobility, and is found in Siebmacher's Wappenbuch under the Odrowąż armories.
In the 14th century, a branch of the Prussian family von Runge (originating from an area around Wroclav/Breslau) adopted the surname Sypniewski.
At the turn of the 16th, and again at the 18th to 19th century, the family split into various and distinct branches, with some members moving to the Austrian province of Galicia (holding the Austrian title Ritter von Odrowaz or Ritter von Sypniewski (see also Ritter) granted by the Empress Maria Theresia), near the Ukraine and Moldavia, then on to Hungary and the Balkans. This Austrian branch produced several k.u.k. officers from the famous Theresian Military Academy in Vienna.
One of the earliest recorded Sypniewski's estate transfers is from 1392, when Dobieslaw von Runge (Polish: Dobiesław Runge) married daughter of Janek from Sypniewo (Polish: Janek z Sypniewa / Janek Sypniewski, German: Johannes von Zippnow) and received Sypniewo (German: Zippnow) in dowry, as well as wedding promise of building first church there (it was completed and expanded in next decades). It is not known when exactly von Runge adopted his wife's family name, but most of their children were already known to use Sypniewski family name. Several estates called Sypniewo (which means in Polish "the Sypniewski's Estate" or "Sypniewski's town") still exist today, such as estate south of Samotschin in the former Kreis Chodziesen/Kolmar in Posen, and larger holding called Sypniewo (Zippnow) located north of Samotschin, in Złotów county. One of their largest estates near Wyrzysk was sold to King Frederick the Great in 1774. Most of Sypniewski's estates were located in former West Prussia, now part of Wielkopolska and Pomorze, Poland. Wielkopolska, or Greater Poland, is referred to as crib, or home of the Polanie (a Slavic tribe that lived in the heart of Poland, from which name Polska – Poland – was later derived ); it also contains some of the oldest towns in today's Poland.
"Sypniewskis at Palace in Homel", oil on canvass painting, c. 1850
Sypniewskis also had estates in Polesie, formerly the largest province of Poland (currently part of Belarus and Ukraine), several near the city of Żytomierz (currently under Ukrainian jurisdiction since 1945) and large manorial estate crowned with beautiful palace until the end of the 18th century near the city of Gomel (currently under Belarusian jurisdiction since 1945); only portion of the cellars and some of the foundations in the ground is what remains today from this once wealthy estate, which used to provide living for about 500 peasant families. Politician Jan Odrowaz-Sypniewski was born there around 1760. He was a legate of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth's Great Parliament and one of the promoters of the first in Europe democratic Constitution of May 3, 1791 (and second in the world, after the United States Constitution). His grandson, Dyonizy Odrowaz-Sypniewski, an architect, exiled to United States and U.K., where he published – at his own expenses – many treatises and political books regarding Partitions of Poland and advocated for restitution of Poland in general.[1][2] His avid anti-Russian, anti-Prussian and anti-Austrian activities didn't go well with U.K. government (all 3 countries being allies of British Empire at the time). Once he became persona non grata in Britain and was forced to leave the country, he settled in Brasil, where he built roads and bridges. Polesie was inhabited by Ruthenians, called Polesians; of Ukrainian descent. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Sypniewski were found in Polesia as a notable family mentioned in the Listracje (inventories) similar to the registry of England's Domesday Book. The Partitions of Poland and turbulent times of 18th and 19th centuries have forced many Polish families to emigrate to other regions of Europe (particularly Prussia) and later to emigrate further across the Oceans. Among many others: Heinrich Sypniewski from Cologne had a Eucalyptus farm in Brazil; Maria Anna Sypniewski from Bydgodzcz settled in Australia in 1835; Thaddeus Sypniewski landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, then moved to Pennsylvania in 1850; Heinrich Sypniewski, Colonel of Austrian Empire Army, have been exiled/imprisoned in Siberia after the end of 1863 Polish January Uprising and killed there in 1866 (presumably in Uprising of Polish political exiles in Siberia). Julian Sypniewski tried to establish large farm in United States in 1876 (see California links below).
Sypniewskis could also be found near Bydgoszcz (German: Bromberg) and Wroclaw (German: Breslau) in the manor of Skoraszewice until World War II. Others were in Vienna, Passau, Nuremberg, Cologne, Sweden, Switzerland, and – to a lesser degree – in other European countries.
List of existing estates
Sypniewski's estate, Sypniewo, Wiecbork County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland – A "Little Palace", 2010
NOTE: Polish coats of arms were never provided for individuals or for individual families, but for a much wider group of clans people (a bit like sharing a tartan colour). The Polish nobleman added the name of his clan to the family name. In addition to the adjectival surname ending "ski" or "cki" meaning 'from' or 'of'. The standard form, for example, was "Peter Sypniewski, herbu Odrowąż" or simply "Piotr Odrowąż Sypniewski". In this century the surname Sypniewski has been transmuted into the Celtic d'Argantel Odrowąż.
The book, Galician Nobility, (Galicia was SE Poland as part of the Austrian Empire) lists the arms for Sypniewski (table 449): a family of Polish gentry from the Polish Province (Wojewodztwo) of Prussia, where they are first recorded in 1490. Descendant Boniface Sypniewski is entered in the records of Galicia in 1783. The coat of arms is Odrowąż.
Siebmacher's Wappenbuch (Siebmacher's armorial reference book) under Preussischer Adel (Prussian Nobility), records Sypniewski (table 269), a Polish family, connected to the Odrowaz coat of arms, still 20 years ago (at the printing of the above stated book, c. 1840) in possession of a sizeable piece of farmland. Coat of arms: Look under Gliscinski III (Odrowaz).
Arms: Gules, an arrow argent point to chief, the base terminating as inverted horns. (Red, a silver arrow, point upwards, the base terminating as inverted horns) Crest: out of a crest coronet proper, a pananache of peacock plumes proper, charged with arms, fesseway (horizontally). Motto: No motto is recorded
Heraldic Colors: Argent: silver and is usually depicted in heraldic painting as white – or: gold and is usually depicted in heraldic painting as yellow. Gules: red in heraldic language. Red is a royal color. Red/argent stands for bold and resolutely honest with martial prowess, boldness, and valor
Heraldic Symbolism: Arrows: arrows usually are traced to achievements of the original bearer during the Crusades. Arrows are symbolic of one who is ready and fit for military encounter.
Peacock Feathers: the peacock represents personal pride. Feathers also symbolise conquests in Syria/Holy Land over the Saracens in the Crusades.
Ducal Coronet: The four leaves on the coronet surmounting the helmet were originally oak leaves, then changed to the Polish traditional strawberry leaves. Leaves symbolise victorious battle, and/or a title of nobility.
Comments
The Odrowąż arms are also prominently shown in the film Knights of the Teutonic Order (Polish: Krzyżacy), one of the largest film productions ever in Poland, based on the novel of the same name by Nobel prize laureate, Henryk Sienkiewicz. King Władysław Jagiełło – a historic person, king of Poland between 1381 and 1434 – was the first Polish king to recognize Sypniewski's Pomeranian nobility and to bestow them the Odrowąż coat of arms. It was very important event in Sypniewskis history and turning point in their genealogy, as from that moment on vast majority of Sypniewski's clan members were no longer identified as Pomeranian family, but chose to side with, and de facto became Poles. Sypniewski clan provided king Jagiełło (and later his son, king Casimir IV Jagiellon) with knights, arms, soldiers, supplies and money in their fight against Teutonic Order and they took active part in taking of Bydgoszcz, famous Battle of Grunwald, long Thirteen Years' War, and in every war fought by Poland since (i.e. Rotmistrz (Captain of Cavalry, equivalent of modern Colonel) Jan Stefan Sypniewski had briefly occupied Moscow in 1605 during Polish–Muscovite War)
Felicjan Sypniewski was a scientist whose ground-breaking studies and scientific publications influenced the next generations of Polish naturalists and have laid down foundations of malacology and algology.
Józef Piłsudski mausoleum in Vilnius, work of sculptor Bolesław Sypniewski, 1937
Renowned sculptor Bolesław Sypniewski donated almost 2 years of his work for the mausoleum of the most famous leader of Second Polish Republic, Marshal Józef Piłsudski. His Matka i Serce Syna (Mother and Her Son's Heart) black granite tombstone[4] is still laying there today in Vilnius'sRossa Cemetery in Lithuania (back then part of Poland), where – in accordance with his wishes – the heart of Marshal Piłsudski was buried in his mother's tomb.
Sypniewskis have, over the millennium, produced gallant knights, politicians, artists, authors, engineers, officers, musicians, medical doctors, teachers, government administrators, few explorers, and even sportsmen in recent times.
Members of the Sypniewski family have been actively involved in Polish politics for seven centuries and took part in all Polish wars and uprisings, including Polish Underground Resistance and French Resistance during World War II (i.e. Jan Sypniewski, later known as Jan Slave, journalist at the Neue Zürcher Zeitung).
Even though by today many of the families bearing the surname Sypniewski may no longer be classified as being truly 'related', often physical traits are still intact. On the male side they usually are tall, with a high forehead and 'Geheimratsecken' (naturally receded hairline above the temple) with an oval face. Also certain forenames were given within the families and only with the advent of the World Wars was this changed. For example: Jan, Stanislas and Adalbert (or Albert) were very common. It is worthwhile to note that the large parish church in Margonin (near Sypniewo/Chrustowo) is named after Saint Patron of Sypniewski family – St Adalbert, and it was erected by Sypniewskis at the end of 14th Century.
Patron Saint of Sypniewskis
California links
As recounted in her memoirs,[5] the actress Helena Modrzejewska (usually known as Helena Modjeska) emigrated to the United States in 1876. The group of emigrants who settled in Anaheim, California, also included Henryk Sienkiewicz and his good friend Julian Sypniewski, whose Sypniewski family stories and old tell-tales could have been – or most likely were – important inspirations for stories later written by Sienkiewicz in his novels. Julian's friend, Stanisław Witkiewicz (father of famous Polish poet, writer and painter, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz) and Adam Chmielowski had planned to be part of this group, but they changed their minds at the last minute.[6]
The szlachta were the noble estate of the realm in the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth who, as a class, had the dominating position in the state, exercising extensive political rights and power. Szlachta as a class differed significantly from the feudal nobility of Western Europe. The estate was officially abolished in 1921 by the March Constitution.
Sulima is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by several szlachta families in the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Among its most notable users were Zawisza Czarny and the Sułkowski family.
Pobóg is a Polish coat of arms that was used by many noble families in medieval Poland and later under the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Jastrzębiec is one of the most ancient Polish coat of arms. Dating back to the 10th century, it has been used by Poland's oldest szlachta families — Poland's Immemorial nobility — and remains in use today.
Dołęga is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by several szlachta families in the times of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Bogoria is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by several szlachta families in medieval Poland and later under the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, branches of the original medieval Bogoriowie family as well as families connected with the Clan by adoption.
Odrowąż is a Polish coat of arms of probably Moravian origin. It was used by many noble families known as szlachta in Polish in medieval Poland and later under the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, branches of the original medieval Odrowążowie family as well as families connected with the Clan by adoption.
Polish heraldry is the study of the coats of arms that have historically been used in Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It treats of specifically Polish heraldic traits and of the Polish heraldic system, contrasted with heraldic systems used elsewhere, notably in Western Europe. Due to the distinctive ways in which feudal societies evolved. Poland's heraldic traditions differ substantially from those of the modern-day German lands and France.
Przyjaciel also known as "de Pryjatel" and "Amicus" is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by several szlachta (noble) families under the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Abdank is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by several szlachta families in the times of the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Sas or Szász is a Central European coat of arms. It was borne since the medieval period by several Transylvanian-Saxon Hungarian, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, and Polish-Lithuanian noble families. The house was once a mighty princely and ducal house with origins in Saxony, Transylvania, Hungary and Ruthenia.
Ostoja is a Polish coat of arms that probably originated from Sarmatian Tamga and refer to Royal Sarmatians using Draco standard. Following the end of the Roman Empire, in the Middle Ages it was used by Ostoja family in Lesser Poland and later also in Kujavia, Mazowsze and Greater Poland. It is a coat of arms of noble families that fought in the same military unit using battle cry Hostoja or Ostoja, and that applied their ancient heritage on the Coat of Arms, forming a Clan of knights. Later, when the Clan expanded their territory to Pomerania, Prussia, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania they also adopted a few noble families of Ruthenian origin that in 14-15th century settled down in Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine, finally turning into the Clan of Ostoja. As different lines of the clan formed surnames after their properties and adding the adoptions, Ostoja was also recognized as CoA of several families that was not necessary connected to the original Clan, forming Heraldic clan.
Margonin is a town in Chodzież County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,941 inhabitants (2004).
Achinger is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by several szlachta families in the times of the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Kur is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by several noble families forming a Clan of Kur in the times of the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It is noted during the reign of the Jagiellon dynasty and illustrated with its original name in the work of Bartosz Paprocki "Herby Rycerstwa Polskiego" in 1584. Furthermore, it is published in the work of Szymon Okolski in 1641. and several other publications
Mikołaj Błociszewski - a court knight and the deputy of King Jogaila for negotiations with the Teutonic Knights. He was Castellan of Sanok (1401–1415), Judge of Poznań (1415–1419) and Lord of Greater Poland.
Heraldic adoption, was in the Kingdom of Poland a legal form of ennoblement and adoption into an existing heraldic clan; along with assuming the coat of arms of that clan it took place as a result of an act issued by the King. The adoption of heraldic arms was a procedure used solely in Polish heraldry and was one of the earlier "old way" forms of ennoblement in Poland. It became particularly popular in the 15th century, especially with prosperous or prestigious city burghers and patricians aspiring to attain noble status, but was abolished by the first half of the 17th century.
Felicjan Odrowąż Sypniewski, also known as Felicyan Sypniewski was a Polish naturalist, botanist, entomologist, malacologist, algologist and philosopher.
Odrowąż was an important family of knights in the medieval Kingdom of Poland, strongly allied with the Catholic church in the 12th century.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
