The szlachta (, ) was a privileged social class in the Kingdom of Poland. The term szlachta was also used for the Lithuanian nobility after the union of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with Poland as the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (Union of Lublin, 1569) and for the increasingly Polonized nobilities of territories controlled by the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, including Ducal Prussia and the Ruthenian lands.

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a semi-confederated, semi-federated monarchic republic from 1569 until 1795, comprising the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The head of state was an elected monarch. The Commonwealth's dominant social class was the nobility. This article chiefly lists the nobility's magnate segment (the wealthier nobility), as they were the most prominent, famous, and notable. These families would receive non-hereditary 'central' and Land dignities and titles under the Commonwealth law that forbade (with minor exceptions) any hereditary legal distinctions within the peerage. They would later be 'approximated' to honorary hereditary titles in the Partition period with little real-power privileges but would still be venerated among the Polish upper class and the rest of the society as 'senatorial', 'palatinal', 'castellanial' or "dignitarial' families.

"Szlachta" is the proper term for Polish nobility beginning about the 15th century. Most powerful members of szlachta were known as magnates ("magnaci" or the "magnateria" class). A Polish nobleman who lived earlier is referred to as a "rycerz" ("knight"); the class of all such individuals is the "rycerstwo" (the "chivalry" class). Most powerful members of "rycerstwo" were known as "możnowładcy" (the "moznowładztwo" class).

By family

Below is a list of most important Polish noble (szlachta) families. The families listed are the famous magnates families - ones that had accumulated great wealth and political power, generally preserved across several centuries. Please note that this list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all szlachta families. For the list of lesser known but still notable Polish noble families, see the corresponding category

All names are given first in the singular, then (parenthetically) in the plural.

Borkowski (Borkowscy) Chodkiewicz (Chodkiewiczowie) Czartoryski (Czartoryscy) Czartoryscy, Encyklopedia WIEM Gorczewski (Gorczewscy) Lanckoroński (Lanckorońscy)Wieslaw Filipczyk, Charles I the emperor of Austria confirms membership of the Lanckoronski family , poland.pl Litwicki (Litwiccy) Lubomirski (Lubomirscy)Adam Hornecki, Produkcja i handel zbożowy w latyfundium Lubomirskich, c.1650–1750 [Grain Production and Trade in the Lubomirski Latifundium, c.1650–1750], PAN: Prace Komisji Nauk Historycznych, Wrocław, 1970 Mielzynski (Mielzynscy) . Odrowąż (Odrowąż – herb szlachecki) Ogiński (Ogińscy) Ostrogski (Ostrogscy) Ostrogscy, PWN Encyklopedia Ostroróg (Ostrorogowie) Ostrorogowie , PWN Encyklopedia Pac (Pacowie) Poniatowski (Poniatowscy) Potocki (Potoccy) POTOCCY, Encyklopedia Interia Potoccy, WIEM Encyklopedia Radziwiłł (Radziwiłłowie) RADZIWIŁŁOWIE, Encyklopedia Interia Radziwiłłowie, WIEM Encyklopedia Rzewuski (Rzewuscy herbu Krzwyda) Sapieha (Sapiehowie) Sapiehowie, WIEM Encyklopedia Sanguszko (Sanguszkowie) Sanguszkowie, WIEM Encyklopedia Skarzynski Tarnowski (Tarnowscy) Tarnowscy, PWN Encyklopedia Tęczyński (Tęczyńscy) Tęczyńscy , PWN Encyklopedia Tyszkiewicz (Tyszkiewiczowie) Wiśniowiecki (Wiśniowieccy) Zamoyski (Zamoyscy) Żeleński (Żeleńscy)

By year of birth Listed below are prominent szlachta of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, by century and year of birth.

In many cases, birth year is uncertain or unknown. Under the Commonwealth, most people—including szlachta—paid little attention to their birth dates.

15th century

Wojciech Jastrzębiec (Jastrzebski) 1362-1436 Archbishop of Gneizno

Jan Skarzynski, 1400s, Nobleman

Peter Hussakowski (Ussakowski) 1448, Nobleman Jan Scibor Taczanowski, 15th century-1468, voivode Jan Tarnowski, 1488–1561, hetman Jan Lubrański, 1456–1520, bishop Jan Łaski, 1456–1531, primate, archbishop Mikołaj Kamieniecki, 1460–1515, hetman Konstanty Ostrogski, 1460–1530, hetman Krzysztof Szydłowiecki, 1467–1532, chancellor Michał Gliński, 1470–1534, prince Jan Feliks "Szram" Tarnowski, 1471–1507, castellan, voivode Jan Stawicki, 1473–1510, voivode, starost of Didnia Jan "Ciężki" Tarnowski, 1479–1527, castellan, starost Tiedemann Giese, 1480–1560, bishop Barbara Kola, 1480–1560 Jerzy Radziwiłł, 1480–1541, hetman, voivode, castellan, marshal Jan Tęczyński, 1485–1553, Court Marshall Piotr Gamrat, 1487–1545, bishop Stanisław Kostka, 1487–1555, castellan, podskarbi Jan Łaski, 1499–1560, philosopher Barbara Kiszka, 15th century-1513 Mikołaj Firlej, 15th century-1526, voivode, hetman Nicolaus Wasilewski 1489-1542 Nobleman Andrzej Tarło, 15th century-1531, chorąży Jan Tarło, 15th century-1550, krajczy, podczaszy, cześnik Piotr Firlej, 15th century-1553, voivode Mikołaj Mielecki, 15th century-1585, hetman, voivode Petraszka Lanevicz-Mylski 15th century, nobleman

16th century

Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski (ca. 1503–1572) scholar, humanist and theologian Mikołaj Rej, 1505–1568, writer Stanisław Odrowąż, 1509–1545, castellan, voivode Jerzy Jazłowiecki, 1510–1575, hetman Marcin Kromer, 1512–1589, Prince-Bishop Mikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł, 1512–1584, hetman, kanclerz (chancellor) Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł, 1515–1565, marshal, chancellor, palatine Barbara Radziwiłł, 1520–1550, queen Jan Firlej, 1521–1574, marshall, starost Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski, 1526–1608, voivode Radziwill Butwilowicz, 1526 Jan Tarło, 1527–1587, castellan, voivode Michał Wiśniowiecki, 1529–1584, castellan Jan Kostka, 1529–1581, voivode Grzegorz Branicki, c.1534–1595, łowczy of Kraków, starost of Niepołomice Zofia Tarnowska, 1534–1570 Jan Krzysztof Tarnowski, 1537–1567, castellan Sebastian Lubomirski, 1539–1613, castellan Zofia Odrowąż, 1540–1580 Jan Opaliński, 1546–1598 Mikołaj VII Radziwiłł, 1546–1589, chambelain Krzysztof Mikołaj "the Lightning" Radziwiłł, 1547–1603, hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski, 1547–1620, hetman, catellan, chancellor Mikołaj Krzysztof "the Orphan" Radziwiłł, 1549–1616, voivode Marek Sobieski, 1549–1605, voivode Stanisław Kostka, 1550–1568, saint Jan Tarnowski, 1550–1605, archbishop Stanisław Stadnicki, 1551–1610 Jan Kiszka, 1552–1592 Andrzej Leszczyński, 1553–1606, starost of Nakło, voivode of Brześć Kujawski Mikołaj Zebrzydowski, 1553–1620, voivode Janusz Ostrogski, 1554–1620, castellan, voivode Adam Sędziwój Czarnkowski, 1555–1628, voivode Jan Zbigniew Ossoliński, 1555–1628, King's secretary Aleksander Koniecpolski, 1555–1609, voivode Jerzy Radziwiłł, 1556–1600, bishop Lew Sapieha, 1557–1633, hetman, voivode Stanisław Krasiński, 1558–1617, voivode Jan Karol Chodkiewicz, 1560–1621, hetman Katarzyna Ostrogska, 1560–157 Krystyna Radziwiłł, 1560–1580 Mikołaj Spytek Ligęza, 1562–1637, castellan Zygmunt Tarło, 1562–1628, castellan Marcin Kazanowski, 1563/1566–1636, hetman, chancellor, voivode Zygmunt Kazanowski, 1563–1634, starost, courth marshall and chamberlain Konstanty Wiśniowiecki, 1564–1641, voivode Barbara Tarnowska, 1566–1610 Adam Wiśniowiecki, 1566–1622 Jan Szczęsny Herburt, 1567–1616, starost Jan Piotr Sapieha, 1569–1611, starosta uświacki, pułkownik królewski Janusz Skumin Tyszkiewicz, 1570–1642, voivode, writer Aleksander Ostrogski, 1571–1603, voivode Daniel Naborowski, 1573–1640, poet Jerzy Zbaraski, 1573–1631, castellan Anna Kostka, 1575–1635 Katarzyna Kostka, 1575–1648 Adam Hieronim Sieniawski, 1576–1616, starost, podczaszy Grzegorz IV Radziwiłł, 1578–1613, castellan Rafał Leszczyński, 1579–1636, voivode Janusz Radziwiłł, 1579–1620, castellan Stanisław "Rewera" Potocki, 1579–1667, hetman Aleksander Józef Lisowski, 1580–1616, mercenary commander Szymon Okolski, 1580–1653, historian, priest Jakub Sobieski, 1580/88-1646, voivode Krzysztof Zbaraski, 1580–1628, koniuszy, ambassador Hieronim Morsztyn, 1581–1623, poet Jan Opaliński, 1581–1637, voivode of Poznań Łukasz Opaliński, 1581–1654, voivode Jan Tęczyński, 1581–1637, voivode of Kraków Jakub Zadzik, 1582–1642, bishop and chancellor Stanisław Lubomirski, 1583–1649 Zofia Czeska, 1584–1650, nun Piotr Gembicki, 1585–1657, chancellor Krzysztof II Radziwiłł, 1585–1640, hetman Szymon Starowolski, 1585–1650, priest, writer Samuel Korecki, 1586–1622 Piotr Opaliński, 1586–1624 Kasper Doenhoff, 1587–1645, voivode Krzysztof Ossoliński, 1587–1645, voivode Stefan Pac, 1587–1640, chancellor Mikołaj Firlej, 1588–1635, wojewoda sandomierski Marina Mniszech, 1588–1614 Samuel Łaszcz, 1588–1649, starosta, (warchoł means brawler, barrator) Albrycht Władysław Radziwiłł, 1589–1636, castellan Jan Stanisław Sapieha, 1589–1635, Chancellor of Lithuania from 1621–1635, childless Stanisław Koniecpolski, 1590/1594–1646, hetman Jakub Sobieski, 1590–1646, voivode Janusz Tyszkiewicz Łohojski, 1590–1649, voivode Andrzej Bobola, 1591–1657, jesuit, martyr, saint Zygmunt Karol Radziwiłł, 1591–1642, voivode Krzysztof Arciszewski, 1592–1656, General of Artillery Mikołaj Ostroróg, 1593–1651, sejm marshal Jan Karol Tarło, 1593–1645, castellan Aleksander Ludwik Radziwiłł, 1594–1654, voivode Bogdan Chmielnicki, 1595–1657, hetman Jerzy Ossoliński, 1595–1650, voivode and chancellor Mikołaj Potocki, 1595–1651, castellan, hetman Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł, 1595–1656, chancellor Stanisław Lanckoroński, 1597–1657, voivode Janusz Wiśniowiecki, 1598–1636, starost, koniuszy Adam Kazanowski, 1599–1649 Stefan Czarniecki, 1599–1665, hetman Barbara Lubomirska, 16th century-? Paweł Tarło, 16th century-1565, bishop Jan Tarło, 16th century-1571 Samuel Zborowski, 16th century-1584 Stanisław Lubomirski, 16th century-1585 Mikołaj Firlej, 16th century-1588 Krzysztof Kosiński, 16th century-1593 Jan Tęczyński, 16th century-1583, castellan, podkomorzy Stanisław Tarło 16th century-1600, starost Mikołaj Firlej, 16th century-1601, wojewoda krakowski Fiodor Trubecki, 16th century-1608, prince Katarzyna Lubomirska, 16th century-1611 Jerzy Mniszech. 16th century-1613, voivode Michał Wiśniowiecki, 16th century-1616, castellan Wigund-Jeronym Trubecki, 16th century-1634, prince Henryk Firlej, 16th century-1626, bishop Krzysztof Wiesiołowski, 16th century-1637, marshal Anna Branicka, 16th century-1639 Aleksander Korwin Gosiewski, 16th century-1639 Zofia Krasińska, 16th century-1642 Katarzyna Potocka, 16th century-1642 Piotr Trubecki, 16th century-1644, podkomorzy, chamberlain Krystyna Lubomirska, 16th century-1645 Stanisław Kazanowski, 16th century-1648 Konstancja Ligęza, 16th century-1648 Krzysztof Chodkiewicz, 16th century-1652, castellan, voivode Jan Kazimierz Umiastowski, 16th century - 1659, sejm marshal Samuel Twardowski, 16th century (1590s) - 1661, writer

17th century

Marianna Wiśniowiecka, 1600-1624 Anna Eufrozyna Chodkiewicz, 1600–1631 Adam Kisiel, 1600–1653, voivode Janusz Kiszka, 1600–1653 Kazimierz Siemienowicz, 1600–1651, general, scientist Katarzyna Ostrogska, 1602–1642 Prokop Sieniawski, 1602–1626, chorąży Marcin Kalinowski, ca. 1605–1652, field crown hetman, voivode Dominik Aleksander Kazanowski, 1605–1648, voivode Andrzej Leszczyński, 1606–1651, voivode Jan Kazimierz Krasiński, 1607–1669, voivode Andrzej Trebicki, 1607–1679, bishop Andrzej Leszczyński, 1608–1658, chancellor and primate Paweł Jan Sapieha, 1609–1665, voivode Aleksander Sielski, 1610-1682, Marshal, Castellan, Chamberlain, Envoy Krzysztof Opaliński, 1611–1655, voivode Bogusław Leszczyński, 1612–1659, starost Łukasz Opaliński, 1612–1666 Hieronim Radziejowski, 1612–1667, chancellor Janusz Radziwiłł 1612–1655, hetman, voivode Jeremi Wiśniowiecki, 1612–1651, voivode Kazimierz Franciszek Czarnkowski, 1613–1656 Mikołaj Krzysztof Sapieha, 1613–1639, voivode