Skarżyński

Skarżyński (Ukrainian: Скаржинський, romanized: Skarzhyns'kyy; Belarusian: Скаржынскі, romanized: Skaržynski; Russian: Скаржинский, romanized: Skarzhinskiy) was an ancient noble Slavic family in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russian and First French Empires. The family descends from the Olgovichi of the Rurik dynasty. They are also the relatives of Natalya Naryshkina who is the mother of Tsar Peter I of Russia. This makes the Skarzhinsky family descendants of the House of Romanov.The Skarzynski family has a very complex ancestral heritage with the family having multiple branches throughout Europe. One branch of the family was Cossack. This branch would form three lineages in Lubny, Chernihiv, and Kherson in Ukraine. The Skarżyński family originates from Trakai Voivodeship, Grand Duchy of Lithuania with strong ancestral ties to the Principality of Turov, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Upper Oka Principalities. Other branches of the family have origins in the territories that were once known as Prussia. Records indicate a strong presence in Mazovia. The family has a deep military tradition. The Orthodox branch of the Skarzhinsky family played a prominent role in the history of Russia, and Ukraine. The family has become well represented spreading all over the world especially Europe and the United States.

The Skarzynski family have had a strong presence in the Grodno Region, Belarus and Pinsk District, Brest Region, Belarus since the 1600s. The Skarzynski family is from the same genus as the noble Russian bloodlines of Baryatinsky, Obolensky, Shcherbatov, Dolgorukov, Repnin and Volkonsky. They are the descendants of Chernigov Prince Oleg Svyatoslavich founder of the Olgovichi. This would put the Skarzhinsky families initial origins most likely in Polesia, Novgorod, Rostov, Yaroslavl Oblast or Pskov. The family is of Bończa coat of arms. The family has many branches all over Eastern Europe. Since the early 1600s, the Skarzhinsky family owned land in the Turov Voivodeship. The family also owned land in the Pyetrykaw District, Gomel Region, Belarus. The Orthodox branch of the Skarzhinsky family belonged to the richest land owning Russian nobility and played a prominent role in the history of Russia, and Ukraine. They owned thousands of acres of land throughout the territory of the Russian Empire from western Belarus to central and southern regions of Ukraine. The family owned hundreds of acres of land in Mglin, Russia where Alexander Matveyevich Skarzhinsky was leader of the Mglinsky nobility. His ancestor Anastasy Ivanovich Skarzhinsky was the founder of the Bryansk Oblast branch of the Skarzhinsky family. The family also owned land in the folwark estate in Kamenka near Ashmyany, Belarus. The family set forth a detailed history of the members of family for the purpose of establishing themselves in the nobility at the Ashmyany City Court. The Skarżyńskis also owned land in Paszkiszki village, Grodno Region, Belarus. There is a Skarzhinsky branch in Minsk, Belarus. The Skarżyńskis also had a strong presence in Vilnius Region, Lithuania.

The Skarżyńskis also owned land in Kherson Governorate, Ukraine. A branch of the Skarzhinsky family owned the county of Elisavetgrad uezd in the Kherson Governorate of the Russian Empire until 1909. Trikraty, Ukraine was originally named Velyka Skarzhynka in honor of noble Viktor Petrovich Skarzhinsky. The Skarzhynskis also had branches in Poltava, Chernihiv, Odessa, Kiev, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, and along the Dnieper in many villiages. Another branch of the family was established in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. The family has also had a strong presence in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Moscow, Russia, Bryansk Oblast, and the Caucasus. The family owned a gothic style mansion in Kislovodsk, Russia. Another Skarzynski branch resided in Germany. The genus is still strongly represented throughout Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, England, France, and the United States. The family has a history of nobility in Poland, Lithuania, France, Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. The Catholic branch of the Skarzynski family played a significant role in the history of Poland and France. Two members of the family, General Ambroży Mikołaj Skarżyński and Generał Kazimierz Skarzynski, served in the First French Empire's Grande Armée under the leadership of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The two Skarzynski brothers were awarded French decorations Chevalier de l'Empire and Legion of Honour for their service to France.

Colonel Stanisław Skarżyński was a legendary pilot in the Polish Air Force. Initially he was an infantryman in the Polish army. He would have a highly decorated military career. He was also decorated with the French decoration Legion of Honour.

Another branch of the family took Russian citizenship after the partitions of Poland, but remained Polish and Catholic. Also, some Skarzhinsky Catholics after the Partitions turned out to be subjects of Prussia.

In 1820, the Vilnius herald recognized several of the Skarżyńskis "as native and ancient Polish nobility", bringing their names to the first part of the gubernial books of nobility. In 1844, the Vilnius herald recorded in the Trakai district Ignacy other members of the Skarżyński family.

The Skarzynski family is also listed in Part 12, page 68 of the General Armorial of the Noble Families of the All Russian Empire.

The family intermarried with many noble Ukrainian officer families of the 18th — 19th centuries, in particular, such as the Skoropadsky, Zakrevsky, Znachko-Yavorsky, Miloradovich, Miklashevsky, Sudienko and others.

Anastasiy Ivanovich Skarzhinsy began civil service in 1794. In 1828, he became the Mglinsky district treasurer. He lived in Mglin, Russia.

Matvey Ivanovich Skarzhinsky, who began his civil service in 1788, was promoted to titular councilor in 1815, was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir of the 4th class.

In the late 1800s, Alexander Matveyevich Skarzhinsky, at the age of 28, became the Leader of the Mglinsky nobility.

In 1900, the Skarzhinsky brothers Matvey, Vasily and Ivan jointly owned 779 acres of land in the Mglinsky District, Russia.

Some members of the Skarzhinsky family were politicians. Tadeusz Mieczysław Skarżyński was a member of the Second Russian State Duma in 1907. Pyotr Mikhailovich Skarzhinsky would become governor of Caucasian Governorate 1793-1796. Viktor Pyotrovich Skarzhinsky was Provincial Leader of the Nobility in Kherson. Pyotr Vasilyevich Skarzhinsky was Governor of Volyn.

Pavel Matveevich Skarzhinsky served in the judicial department of Kharkov, Ukraine.

Some descendants of the Skarzhinsky/Skarżyński bloodline, in the United States, carry the surname of Brunett and Stephenson.