Zakrzewski was the surname borne by 25 noble families from Poland and the name of one of the clans. These families were septs of the clans Abszac, Bogorya, Brochwicz, Doliwa, Dolega, Gryf, Jastrzebiec, Jelike, Kos, Kosciesza, Lewark, Lubicz, Lodzia, Ogonczyk, Ostoja, Polkozic, Pomian, Poraj, Roch III, Samson, Suchekomnaty, Tepa Podkowa, Topor, Trzaska, and Wysogota. The actual name of the clan was Zakrewski von Felden which was introduced in Poland by a family of Teutonic Knights named Felden, who settled in the region of Chilmo. According to Polish historians, with the help of the Feldens, Prussia became a fiefdom of Poland during the reign of King Kasimierz Jegiello, and they were richly rewarded. Karol von Felden received the region of Chilmo as a reward for his services to the crown. A branch of this house was granted the estate of Zakrzewo and its members adopted the name Zakrzewski as their surname. One Jacob z Wielk Zakrzewa, castellan of Sandomierz fought on the war of Chmielnik against the Tartars in 1241. Jedrzej Zakrzewski of the clan Gryf, royal scribe, held for many years the position of ambassador of King Zygmunt I to the Turkish court.
In the fields of onomastics the Polish surname Zakrzewski is classified as being of toponymic origin. Such names refer to a derivation from the place name where the first bearer lived or held land. In this instance the surname derives from any of the numerous places in Poland named Zakrzewo (Zakrzew or Zakrzewa), with the addition of the standard Polish suffix "-ski". Thus, the first bearer of this surname was someone who hailed from Zakrzewo or was the lord of a place so named. Etymologically, this toponym derives from the Polish terms "za" meaning 'beyond', and "krzewi" which means 'thicket', a collective noun from "kriez" which means bush.
The arms are described as
Azure, a horseshoe or, the points in chief, between its branches a small cross paté of
the last in base.