herbu

Herb is the Polish term for a coat of arms, a hereditary emblem used to identify individuals, families, or institutions. The genitive form "herbu" appears in phrases indicating belonging to a particular coat of arms, for example in genealogical or ceremonial contexts.

Historically, heraldry emerged in medieval Europe and developed into a formal system in Poland and the broader Polish-Lithuanian tradition from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Armorials, or herbarze, collected coats of arms and listed the families that bore them. A single herb could be shared by multiple families, which led to the idea of heraldic clans or groups of bearers known as herbowni.

A coat of arms typically consists of a shield displaying charges (figures or symbols) on a field, often accompanied by a helmet, crest, mantling, and sometimes a motto. In Polish usage, the emblem may appear with variations or additions, and different families associated with the same herb can have distinct renditions while preserving the same basic arms.

Usage in contemporary times focuses on ceremonial and symbolic functions. Coats of arms are still employed by cities, institutions, and certain organizations, and genealogists consult armorial collections to trace lineage and determine which families belong to a given herb. The term herbowni refers to the bearers of a coat of arms, distinguishing those whose lineage is recognized within heraldic tradition.

See also: heraldry, armorial, Polish heraldry.