A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Czarnowski family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6847 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à un senestrochère, arm. d'arg., la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., au nat.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Czarnowski Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Czarnowski arms are recorded
The Czarnowski 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 Czarnowski 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 Czarnowski Family in Germany
The name Czarnowski is rooted in the Slavic linguistic tradition, where it typically functions as a topographic or descriptive surname derived from the word for black. While the family name is strongly associated with Polish regions, its presence in Bavaria by 1765 highlights the movement of families across Central European borders during the eighteenth century. At this time, the Holy Roman Empire served as a complex network of territories where people often migrated for work, trade, or military service. Settling in Bavaria suggests that these early family members were part of a broader trend of integration within German-speaking lands. They likely adapted to local customs and administrative systems while maintaining their distinct ancestral name. This history reflects a period when regional identities were fluid and families often sought new opportunities in the prosperous towns of southern Germany.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à un senestrochère, arm. d'arg., sortant d'une nuée mouv. du flanc, la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, en barre. Cq. cour. C.: le bras, iss. de la couronne.”
PolandPosnanie, c. 1772
Where the Czarnowski Arms Were Recorded
Posnanie
Map of Poland showing where the Czarnowski arms are recorded
The Czarnowski arms were recorded in Posnanie, c. 1772.
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.
Region
Posnanie
Town
Posnanie
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Czarnowski Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in Germany when the Czarnowski arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Poland.
Origin & History of the Czarnowski Family in Poland
The family name Czarnowski is rooted in the Polish language, derived from the word czarny, which means black. In the context of early Polish history, such names often began as descriptive nicknames to distinguish individuals based on their physical appearance, such as dark hair or a tan complexion, or perhaps their choice of clothing. By 1772, records confirm the presence of the Czarnowski family in the region of Poznań, known as Posnanie. This area was a significant cultural and political hub in western Poland, situated along the Warta River. During this period, families in the region were deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the shifting political landscape of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. As the name spread throughout the region, it became a permanent identifier for families who contributed to the local community life, trade, and the development of the province over many generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Czarny
A Slavic adjective meaning black or dark in color.
This name
CzarnowskiA habitational name for someone originating from a place associated with blackness or dark terrain.
also spelled
Charnowski
Czarnowsky
Related arms
Jordansimilar arms
Oelsensimilar arms
von Essersimilar arms
Wostromierski de Roketnicksimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, General-Landes-Archivalien: Steuer- und Katasterunterlagen, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
