A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Janik family of Austria.
Reg. 5408 · Austrian, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
antelopeHarmony, polity and peace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à un chamois ramp. et cont. de sa., soutenu d'une terrasse de trois coupeaux au nat. et tenant de sa patte sen. une couronne de feuillage de sin.; au 2 de gu. au lion d'or, cour. du même, soutenu d'une terrasse de trois coupeaux au nat. et tenant de sa patte dextre une couronne de feuillage de sin. Au pal d'azur, ch. de trois barres d'or, et br. sur le parti. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une de gu. entre deux d'arg. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sa., à sen. d'or et de gu.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Janik arms are recorded
The Janik arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
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
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Janik 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 Janik 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 Austria.
Origin & History of the Janik Family in Austria
The surname Janik is a variation of the name Jan, which is the Slavic equivalent of John. Historically, this name was very common across Central and Eastern Europe, often serving as a patronymic that identified a person as the son of a man named Jan. By the year 1772, records confirm that families bearing this name were established in the Tyrol region. At that time, Tyrol was a significant territory within the Holy Roman Empire, serving as a mountainous crossroads for trade and cultural exchange between German and Italian lands. Families living in this area during the late eighteenth century were often involved in agriculture, forestry, or local craftsmanship. The presence of the Janik name in Tyrol suggests that these ancestors were part of the diverse population that navigated the complex social and economic shifts of the Alpine region during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Johannes
Hebrew for God is gracious
This name
JanikA diminutive form meaning little John or son of John
also spelled
Jenick
Yenik
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
antelopeHarmony, polity and peace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
antelopeHarmony, polity and peace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
