Skarżyński (; ; ) 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 on a collateral line. 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.Kosiński, p. 91. 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.Comp. Count Alexander Bobrinsky. Noble families included in the General Armorial of the All-Russian Empire: in 2 volumes - St. Petersburg, type. M. M. Stasyulevich, 1890 Author: Bobrinsky, Alexander Alekseevich (1823-1903). Skarzhinsky. Part II. p. 160. 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.CPAH of Lithuania in Vilnius, f. 391, issue 1, no. 1553, pp. 258-260 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.<ref name="Скаржинские" /> Trikraty, Ukraine was originally named Velyka Skarzhynka in honor of noble Viktor Petrovich Skarzhinsky.Map of the Russian Empire 1860-1890, line XXVII, folio 10 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.My Heritage 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.Poles decorated with the Légion d'honneur 1803 - 1823, S. Loza, Zamosc 1923
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.CPAH of Lithuania in Vilnius, f. 391, issue 9, no. 18, pp. 49-50, 61-62
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, , , , , , , , , Kochubey families and others.
The Skarzhinsky are also intermarried to ancient Russian noble families of Senyukov, Terekhov, , and Naryshkin.
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 Stephenson.
Origin and history The family originated in the Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Other branches of the family have origins in Prussia. Records indicate a strong presence in Mazovia. They are the descendants of the Russian Princes of Chernigov.Family Tree DNA Russian Nobility Project The family descends from the Olgovichi branch. The family has branches or estates in Żuków, Chodaków, Drozdy, Konarów, Brzeziny, Sochaczew, Rypin, Sierpc, Gójsk, and Szczutowo in Poland. Jan Skarzynski founded Skarzyn, Masovian Voivodeship in the early 1400s. The family was granted the land on a knightly right from Bolesław IV, Prince of Mazovia. Other family members have roots in Saint Petersburg, Russia and Moscow, Russia.Compiled By Count Alexander Bobrinsky. Noble families, included in the General Armorial of the All-Russian Empire: in 2 vols. - St. Petersburg, type. M. M. Stasyulevich, 1890 Author: Bobrinsky, Alexander Alekseevich (1823-1903). Skarzyński. Part II. p. 160. Marcin Skarżyński, in the 1600s, owned a lot of land in Trakai District, Lithuania. The family has a deep military tradition serving Prussia, Poland, France, Russian Empire, Germany, and the Soviet Union with some family members being highly ranked and highly decorated as well. The Skarżyński family produced at least five high-ranking generals that served Poland, France, and the Russian Empire. One relative of Skarzhinsky being Mikhail Miloradovich who played a prominent role in the defeat of Napoleon during the Patriotic War of 1812. Many family members who served the Soviet Union were officers or NCOs. Most of them serving in famous major battles on the eastern front of World War Two.
Russian military service
The Skarzhinsky family served the Russian Empire with distinction. Their service brought them admiration from Catherine the Great who rewarded them handsomely for their service.
Mikhail Kazimierz Skarzhinsky entered Russian military service in 1733. Mikhail was a centurion of the 1st Lubny Regimental Hundred (1737-1750) as a language translator.
Mikhail Mikhailovich Skarzhinsky (1742 - 1804) began his service in 1761 as a military clerk, a centurion of the 2nd Lubny regimental hundred (1765-1773), from 1783 onward a bunchuk comrade of the Lubny regiment.
Ivan Mikhailovich Skarzhinsky (1749 - 1806?) began his service in 1769 as a clerk, a cornet of the Lubny Regimental Hundred (1773 - 1787), Zolotonosha District Marshal of the Nobility, since 1780 a Bunchuk comrade. He was married to Elena Grigorievna Zakrevskaya.
Major General (1747 - 1805) was born in the Poltava region and devoted his life to military service. General Pyotr Mikhailovich Skarzhinsky would be decorated with the Order of St. Vladimir of the 2nd degree and the Order of St. George of the 4th degree which was the highest military decoration of the Russian Empire. In 1787, Pyotr Skarzhinsky showed extraordinary courage when, in early October, Suvorov's troops defeated the Turks, taking the fortress near Ochakov. The commander of the 2nd Bug Regiment, Colonel Pyotr Mikhailovich Skarzhinsky, was seriously wounded in the chest. Having recovered from his wounds, a year later he again distinguished himself under the banner of Suvorov during the assault on Ochakov, for which he was awarded the Order of St. George. He was also Commander of the Astrakhan Cossack Regiment. He served in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774 and the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. He would later become the Governor of Caucasian Governorate 1793-1796. In 1775, Pyotr Mikhailovich Skarzhinsky received from Catherine the Great more than 6000 acres of land in the Russian Empire for his service to Russia. There was also a monument to Pyotr in Odessa.
Mikhail Mikhailovich Skarzhinsky (1742 - 1804) began his Russian military service in 1761 as a military clerk, centurion of the 2nd Lubensky Regimental Hundred (1765-1773), from 1783 a bunchuk-comrade of the Lubensky regiment.
Ivan Mikhailovich Skarzhinsky (1749 - 1806?) began his Russian military service in 1769 as a clerk, cornet of the regimental Lubensky hundred (1773 - 1787), Zolotonosha district leader of the nobility and since 1780 Bunchuk comrade.
Nikolai Petrovich Skarzhinsky- second lieutenant of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment, mortally wounded in the battle of Kulm (August 17, 1813), his name is listed on one of the marble plaques on the walls of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. For the Battle of Borodino, Nikolai Skarzhinsky received a high award - a golden sword with the inscription "For bravery", as well as promotion to the rank of second lieutenant.