The Potocki family originated from the small village of
Potok Wielki; their family name derives from that place name. The family contributed to the cultural development and history of Poland's
Eastern Borderlands (today Western Ukraine). The family is renowned for numerous Polish statesmen, military leaders, and cultural activists. The first known Potocki was Żyrosław z Potoka (born about 1136). The children of his son Aleksander (~1167)
castelan of
Sandomierz, were progenitors of new noble families such as the Moskorzewski, Stanisławski, Tworowski, Borowski, and Stosłowski.
Jakub Potocki (c. 1481–1551) was the protoplast of the
magnate line of the Potocki family. The magnate line split into three primary lineages, called: • Hetman Line or Silver Pilawa, many members of which held the position of
Hetman, the protoplast was
Stanisław "Rewera" Potocki. The line divided into a number of branches, including Łańcut, Krzeszów, Tulczyn and Wilanów branches. • Primate Line or Golden Pilawa, named after the most prominent member
Teodor Andrzej Potocki,
Primate of Poland. • Iron Pilawa line The "Złota Pilawa" line received the title of
count from the Emperor of the
Holy Roman Empire in 1606. The entire family began using the Count title after the
partitions of Poland. The title was recognized 1777 and 1784 in the
Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria and 1838, 1843, 1859, 1890 1903 in
Russia and 1889 by the Pope and in the Kingdom of Poland (
Congress Poland). In 1631
Stefan Potocki, who started the "Złota Pilawa" lineage, died and was buried in
Zolotyi Potik (pl.
Złoty Potok,
Golden Potok, a village owned by this lineage), his descendants started to use the
Pilawa coat of arms in golden colour. Because of that the lineage is called the "Złota Pilawa" (Golden Piława). There are also four branches called: • "Gałąź łańcucka" (Branch of
Łańcut) • "Gałąź krzeszowicka" (Branch of
Krzeszowice) • "Gałąź tulczyńska" (Branch of
Tulczyn) • "Gałąź wilanowska" (branch of
Wilanów) Named after the hubs of their respective constellations of properties. The family became prominent in the 16th and 17th centuries as a result of the patronage of
Chancellor Jan Zamoyski and King
Sigismund III Vasa. ==Notable family members==