A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Knezovich family of Italy.
Reg. 1122 · Italian, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'or à un rocher escarpé au nat., mouv. de la p., sommé d'une croix latine treflée de gu., iss. d'une couronne du même; au 2 d'azur à un avant-bras, arm. au nat., mouv. du flanc sen., revêtu d'un gantelet au nat., empoignant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, en pal, accolée d'un rameau de laurier de sin. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º un ange cont. agenouillé, hab. et ailé d'arg., chevelé d'or; 1. d'or et de gu.; 2º un bâton d'arg. sommé d'une croix du même, posé en bande, et un bâton d'arg. en barre, sommé d'un monde d'or entre deux têtes et cols affr. de serpents d'or cour. du même, les deux bâtons passés en saut.; l. d'arg. et d'azur.”
DalmatiaDalmatia, c. 1867
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Map of Italy showing where the Knezovich arms are recorded
The Knezovich arms were recorded in Dalmatia, c. 1867.
Dalmatia was a string of walled towns along the Adriatic coast, each with its own leading families. Sea trade made them wealthy, and the towns kept lists of the houses entitled to 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Italy in this period.
Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Sovereign of the period
Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
1861–1878
Reigning in Italy when the Knezovich arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Italy
In the Italian states, coats of arms were often used by noble families to show their status and history. These symbols were passed down through the generations to all legitimate male descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design but sometimes added small changes to distinguish their specific line from the main branch.
Granting authority
Various local rulers and city governments controlled the use of coats of arms across the different Italian states.
How they got arms
Families often assumed their own arms or received them as official grants from local lords, popes, or city councils.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in local city archives or private family books rather than in one single national register.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dalmatia.
Origin & History of the Knezovich Family in Italy
The surname Knezovich finds its roots in the Slavic title *knez*, which historically referred to a local leader, prince, or nobleman. In the regions of Dalmatia, this name functioned as an occupational or status-based descriptor for families who held positions of authority or served as village elders within their communities. By the mid-19th century, the name was firmly established among the populations living along the Adriatic coast. Records from 1867 confirm that members of the family were active participants in the social and economic life of the Dalmatian provinces during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As these families navigated the changing political landscape of the region, the name served as a link to their ancestral roles as community representatives and local administrators.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Knez
A Slavic title for a tribal leader, prince, or nobleman.
This name
KnezovichA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person holding the rank of prince or nobleman.
also spelled
Knezevic
Knesevich
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Fine, John V. A., The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, 1983
Šimunović, Petar, Hrvatska prezimena: podrijetlo, značenje, rasprostranjenost, 2006
State Archives in Split, Matične knjige rođenih, vjenčanih i umrlih za područje Dalmacije, 1867
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
