The earliest heraldic source mentioning the coat of arms is the Insignia seu clenodia Regis et Regni Poloniae dated 1464–1480 by the Polish historian Jan Długosz, who recognises it as indigenously Polish. He records information about the coat of arms among the 71 oldest Polish noble coats of arms in the passage:
"Druszyna a domo Srzenyawa absque cruce in campo rubeo defert Genus Polonicum in effusionem pronum sanguinis, beati Stanislai reum." (latina), "Druszyna from the house of Srzenyawa without a cross in a red field brings the Polish race to the shedding of prone blood, guilty of blessed Stanislaus." (english). The passage presents an intriguing argument about the relationship between the Drużyna and
Szreniawa coats of arms, grounding its claim in both historiography and heraldic practice. By invoking Bartosz Paprocki and, indirectly,
Jan Długosz, it leans on respected early sources to suggest that the Drużyna emblem represents an earlier, more “original” form of Szreniawa—one that lacked the later addition of the cross and featured only the river motif. This distinction is important, as it highlights how heraldic symbols were not static but evolved over time, often accumulating new elements that reflected shifting identities, alliances, or symbolic meanings. The mention of Jan Kmita’s seal from 1371 strengthens the argument by providing material evidence that the simpler form persisted in use well into the late medieval period. This continuity suggests that the divergence between Drużyna and Szreniawa was not merely theoretical but had practical implications in how noble families identified themselves. The idea that certain families—especially those connected to the starosta—retained the Drużyna version further reinforces the notion of heraldry as both a familial and institutional marker. In this sense, the coat of arms becomes a sign not just of lineage but of political or administrative affiliation. Perhaps most compelling is the observation that “Drużyna” begins to appear as a distinct proclamation in records from this period onward. This indicates a moment of differentiation, when what may once have been a single heraldic tradition split into recognized variants. It reflects a broader pattern in medieval heraldry, where increasing bureaucratic documentation and social complexity led to more precise distinctions between related symbols. At the same time, the argument relies heavily on retrospective interpretation of sources like Długosz, whose descriptions were not always intended as strict heraldic documentation. This leaves room for debate about whether Drużyna should be seen as the “original” Szreniawa or as a parallel, closely related development. Even so, the passage effectively illustrates how heraldic evolution can mirror broader historical processes—of lineage formation, office-holding, and the gradual codification of noble identity. According to Polish heraldic tradition, the original coat of arms known as Szreniawa did not include a cross. In 1371, a modified version of this coat of arms appeared, distinguished by the addition of a cross. Over time, this newer form retained the name Szreniawa. Meanwhile, families who continued using the older, crossless version began referring to it as Drużyna to differentiate it from the updated Szreniawa emblem. This split in naming reflects a common pattern in medieval Polish heraldry, where small visual changes in a coat of arms could lead to the development of distinct names and identities within the heraldic system. ==Notable bearers==