Firlej is the surname of a Polish szlachta

Szlachta

The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...

 (nobility) family.

History

According to Kasper Niesiecki

Kasper Niesiecki

Kasper Niesiecki was a Polish heraldist, Jesuit, lexicographer, writer, theologian and preacher.-Biography:Niesiecki was born in Greater Poland to a burgher family. In 1699 he began training as a Jesuit in Kraków. From 1701 to 1704 he studied philosophy in Lublin, earning a master's degree...

, Ostafi of Lewart coat of arms

Lewart coat of arms

Lewart is a Polish Coat of Arms. It was borne by several noble families of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Families that descend from the original medieval clan that assumed this c-of-a as well as those legally adopted into the clan...

 came from Franconia

Franconia

Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...

, Germany, to Poland, in 1317, to serve Polish king Władysław Łokietek. He was nicknamed Firlej, and the name became his family name. From 15th to 17th century, the Firlej family was a powerful magnate

Magnate

Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...

 family in the Lesser Poland

Lesser Poland

Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...

 (Małopolska) region. A branch of the family became a vocal supporter of Protestantism

Protestantism

Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...

 in Poland.

The family went extinct in 18th century.

Members

• Jan Firlej
  Jan Firlej
  Jan Firlej was a Polish nobleman , and Calvinist activist.Jan became Great Marshal of the Crown in 1563 and starost of Kraków in 1572. He agreed with the candidature of Henryk Walezy for the Polish throne only on the condition that Henryk signing the Henrican articles...
  
  
• Piotr Firlej
  Piotr Firlej
  Piotr Firlej was a Polish nobleman .Piotr became voivode of Lublin Voivodship in 1537 and voivode of Ruthenian Voivodship in 1545. In 1514 he participated in the Battle of Orsza and was a trusted adviser of Queen Bona and King Zygmunt II August. He founded the cities of Janowiec and Lubartów and...
  
  
• Henryk Firlej
  Henryk Firlej
  Henryk Firlej was a Polish szlachcic, bishop of Łuck , Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland from 1624; Deputy Chancellor of the Crown .-External links:*...
  
  
• Mikołaj Firlej (?-1526)
• Mikołaj Firlej (?-1588)