Giedroyć family
| Giedraitis Giedroyć / Гедройц | |
|---|---|
|
Coat of arms of the Giedraitis | |
| Country | Grand Duchy of Lithuania |
| Estates | Giedraičiai |
| Founded | 13th century |
| Founder | Giedrius |
| Ethnicity | Lithuanian-Polish |
Giedroyć (Lithuanian: Giedraitis; Russian and Belarusian: Гедройц) is the name of a Polish-Lithuanian noble family, most probably dating back to the time of Mindaugas, although it has no connections with him. No reliable information about the earliest members of the family has survived; when the family name started to appear in written sources in the early 15th century, the precise connections between all its members were already impossible to establish. According to the 16th century Lithuanian Chronicle, they are descendants of duke Giedrius, a brother of Narimantas and Grand Duke of Lithuania Traidenis.
Many family members were important figures in Lithuanian and Polish history and culture.
The family's original domain was the Lithuanian town of Giedraičiai.
Notable members
- Blessed Michał Giedroyć (1420–1485)
- Merkelis Giedraitis (1536–1609), Bishop of Samogitia
- Vera Gedroitz (1870–1932), Lithuanian princess, surgeon and amateur poet
- Wladimir Guedroitz (1873–1941), Chamberlain of the Imperial Court of Russia, State Councillor and President of the Chamber of Control of the Empire
- Jerzy Giedroyc (1906–2000), Polish writer and political activist
- Alexis Guedroitz (1923–1992), Professor of Russian Language and Literature
- Ania Guédroïtz (born 1949), Belgian actress
- Coky Giedroyc (born 1962), English film director (Sherlock)
- Mel Giedroyc (born 1968), English presenter and comedian, best known for The Great British Bake Off.
See also
External links
- Genealogy of the Giedraitis family
- (Lithuanian) A bit on family by Lithuanian historian Zenonas Ivinskis