A noble family of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL), descending from the regional princes of Giedraičiai and its surroundings in the 13th–14th centuries. The family is first mentioned in Hermann de Wartberge’s chronicle in 1375. One of their estate centers was Videniškiai. Their legacy is not limited to Baltadvaris Castle; it also includes the church and monastery founded in the settlement in 1618 by prince Marcelijus Giedraitis.
From the beginning of the 15th century, the surname Giedraitis (Giedroyć) became common in Lithuania, especially among those who were prominent in the region’s ecclesiastical life. Three princes of the House of Giedroyć served as bishops in Samogitia, and numerous family members can be traced among cathedral chapters, parish priests, and monks. They also held positions in civil administration and military service of the GDL. During the 1863 uprising, five members of the House of Giedroyć distinguished themselves.
By the 16th century, the family had branched out so extensively and become so numerous that it is often impossible to determine the exact kinship between individuals sharing the name in historical records. In the 1567 Lithuanian army roster, 74 individuals bearing the Giedraitis surname were listed. By this time, the House of Giedroyć had become impoverished, as neither the princely nor the noble branches were wealthy.
