A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Czerniak family of Austria.
Reg. 5406 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 une croix pattée d'or, surm. d'une étoile du même, le tout accosté de deux huchets de sa., vir. et eng. d'or, posés en pals, affr., l'embouchure en haut. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut. d'arg. L. d'or et d'azur.”
GaliciaGalicia, c. 1772
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Austria showing where the Czerniak arms are recorded
The Czerniak arms were recorded in Galicia, c. 1772.
Galicia was eastern country of large estates and small farming villages, held by families who had been there for a very long time. Land was what entitled a family to arms, and land there rarely changed hands.
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
Galicia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Czerniak Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Austria when the Czerniak arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Galicia.
Origin & History of the Czerniak Family in Austria
The surname Czerniak is rooted in the Slavic linguistic tradition, specifically deriving from the Polish word "czarny," which means black. Historically, this name likely functioned as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who had dark hair or a dark complexion. By 1772, the family was well-established in the region of Galicia. This area was a diverse territory that became part of the Austrian Empire during the first partition of Poland. During this period, families in Galicia were often required to formalize their surnames for tax and military census records as the imperial administration sought to better organize its new subjects. Living in this crossroads of cultures, the Czerniak family likely navigated the complex social landscape of rural villages and growing towns, contributing to the agricultural and trade life of the region for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Czarny
A Slavic adjective meaning black or dark in color.
This name
CzerniakA topographic or descriptive surname referring to someone with dark hair or a dark complexion.
also spelled
Czernik
Czernyk
Chernick
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brückner, Aleksander. Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego. 1927
Taszycki, Witold. Słownik nazwisk współcześnie w Polsce używanych. 1992
Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv (Tsentralnyi derzhavnyi istorychnyi arkhiv Ukrainy u Lvovi), Fond 24 (Galician Gubernial Administration)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
