A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chojnowski family of Germany.
Reg. 3386 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
sceptreRoyal authority and justice
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un croiss. d'or, supp. de chaque corne une étoile du même et dans le milieu une verge d'or, en pal, accolée d'un cep de vigne de sin., fruité de deux grappes de raisins au nat. Cq. cour. C.: une branche d'arbre de sin., feuillée de sept pièces, accostée de deux étoiles d'or.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Chojnowski arms are recorded
The Chojnowski arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Chojnowski arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Chojnowski Family in Germany
The family name Chojnowski is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the Slavic regions, typically functioning as a locative surname that identifies a person by their place of origin. The suffix indicates that the family likely hailed from a town named Chojnow or a similar variation, which translates to a place characterized by pine forests. While the name is deeply connected to these eastern territories, historical records confirm that members of the family had migrated into the region of Bavaria by 1765. This relocation suggests that the family was part of the broader movement of people across Central Europe during the eighteenth century. Whether they moved for professional opportunities or due to shifting political borders, their presence in Bavaria marks a significant chapter in the family history. This transition reflects how families carried their regional identities with them as they integrated into new cultural and social landscapes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Chojnow
Derived from the Polish word chojna meaning pine tree or fir.
This name
ChojnowskiA habitational name for someone originating from a place named Chojnow, meaning pine forest.
also spelled
Schoenowski
Schonowsky
Shonowski
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kutrzeba, Stanisław, Historia ustroju Polski w zarysie, 1905
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
sceptreRoyal authority and justice
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
sceptreRoyal authority and justice
grapesPlenty, and the labour of the vine
