A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hankwitz family of Germany.
Reg. 9216 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à une branche de chêne de sin., en barre, englantée de trois pièces d'or à dextre; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un senestrochère, arm. de sa., la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, en pal. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° la branche de chêne, en pal; l. d'arg. et de sin.; 2° le senestrochère, posé sur le coude; l. d'or et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Hankwitz Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Hankwitz arms are recorded
The Hankwitz 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 Hankwitz 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 Hankwitz Family in Germany
The surname Hankwitz traces its roots to the historical regions of Bavaria, where family members were documented as early as 1765. The name likely originated as a variation of Slavic or Germanic naming patterns common in Central Europe during the eighteenth century. Families with this name often lived in rural or semi-rural settings, where they were likely involved in agriculture, forestry, or local trade. As the region experienced shifts in political and social structures, the Hankwitz family remained part of the local fabric of Bavarian society. Over time, the spelling of the name stabilized as it was recorded in parish registers and local administrative documents. These early ancestors were part of a broader movement of families who maintained deep ties to their local communities while navigating the changing landscape of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hanko
A diminutive form of the Germanic name Johannes meaning God is gracious.
This name
HankwitzA Slavic-influenced German surname denoting a descendant or follower of a man named Hanko.
also spelled
Hanckwits
Hankwitz
Hankwits
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
