The Lis Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Lis, its origins in Poland, and the story behind a Lis family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Lis coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Lis name
Lis means "fox" in Polish, from an old Slavic word for the animal. It was a nickname for a cunning or clever person, or for someone with red hair. Short animal names such as Lis, Wilk and Kot are among the oldest Polish surnames, and Lis is found throughout Poland and among Polish emigrants.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Lis name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Lis name in Poland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Germany and France; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Lis family history
The complete Lis pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Lis name FAQ
What does the Lis name mean?
Fox. Common variants include Lisek, Lisowski, Lisiecki.
Where does the Lis surname come from?
It originates in Poland, and is also found in the United States, Germany and France.
Is there a Lis coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Lis crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Lis coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Rymut, Nazwiska Polaków; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).