by Jim Young (guest)
8/5/2005, 6:14 AM
I knew I'd regret mentioning the herb.
Usually translated into English as "coat of arms". Herby are sort of clan insignia used by groups of families with no other known connection. Each herb has a name, sometimes related to the insignia - swan, axe, boat; sometimes not - bowel, wisdom, youth, pain.
Some of these herb names are found as surnames; Niezgoda ("discord") for instance, and Korczak. It may be coincidence or it may be a deliberate choice of herb as surname. I don't know, but I thought it worth mentioning in relation to the surname Korczak.