Map of Germany showing where the Nowak arms are recorded
The Nowak arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Nowak 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Nowak Family in Germany
The surname Nowak is a classic example of a name that reflects the historical movement of people across Central Europe. It is derived from the Slavic word for new, which was historically used to identify a newcomer or a person who had recently settled in a specific village. By the time records confirm the presence of the family in Silesia in 1765, the region was a vibrant crossroads of German and Slavic cultures under the rule of the Kingdom of Prussia. Families with this name were often farmers or tradespeople who integrated into the local community while maintaining their distinct linguistic heritage. Because Silesia was a borderland that shifted between different political powers, the name Nowak became a common identifier for families who were part of the steady growth of the region’s rural population during the eighteenth century. This name serves as a historical marker of how families adapted and established roots in the changing landscape of German-controlled territories.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De gu. à la bande d'arg., acc. en chef d'une fleur-de-lis du même et en p. d'un griffon d'or, tenant une épée d'arg. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° une fleur-de-lis d'arg., entre un vol de sa.; I. d'or et de gu.; 2° le griffon; I. d'arg. et de gu.”
Austriac. 1758
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Map of Austria showing where the Nowak arms are recorded
The Nowak arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1758.
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
1758
Granting Authority for the Nowak Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Nowak 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 Nowak Family in Austria
The surname Nowak is a classic example of how names traveled and evolved across the borders of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Derived from the Slavic word for new, the name originally functioned as a descriptor for a newcomer or a person who had recently settled in a specific village. By the time members of the family were documented in the mountainous region of Tyrol in 1758, the name had already become a stable identifier for families integrated into local life. During the eighteenth century, Tyrol served as a vital crossroads for trade and migration between German-speaking lands and Slavic territories to the east. Families carrying this name often worked as skilled laborers or farmers, contributing to the agricultural and social fabric of the Alpine valleys. Because the name was common among people moving for work, it reflects the historical mobility of individuals seeking new opportunities within the diverse provinces of the Austrian crown.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Novus
Latin term meaning new or recent.
This name
NowakA Slavic occupational surname denoting a newcomer or a person who is new to a village.
also spelled
Nowack
Novak
Related arms
Nowagvariant spelling
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
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim. Duden, Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen. 2005
Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu (State Archive in Wrocław), Grundsteuerkataster für Schlesien (Land Tax Cadastres for Silesia), 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
foxWit and wisdom in defence
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
foxWit and wisdom in defence
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
