A Bonitz family coat of arms

The only Bonitz family coat of arms known so far was adopted in 1962 by Peter-Michael Bonitz in favor of the descendants of Friedrich Gottlob Bonitz (1773-1840) and was registered at Pro Heraldica. His paternal line goes back to Jorg Boniz (* before 1480), landowner in Kühnhaide (today: Zwönitz) in Saxony.

The left picture of the coat of arms is taken from "Das große Buch der Wappen" by Ottfried Neubecker. Many thanks to André Bonitz. It is also registered and described in Siebmacher's book of coats of arms.

The blazon (textual description) of this coat of arms reads: Shield split by erected silver sword, gold in front of blue. In both fields a parakeet in opposite colors, red armored, with red legs drawn up and red neck ring, the wings closed (not opened for flying). On the helmet with blue-gold blankets and the same bead, a closed flight, gold in front, blue behind, between which an ancient red chariot wheel can be seen. (Siebmacher)

More detailed information about the meaning of the figures in the coat of arms and its history of origin is not yet known.

The similarity of the symbolism in the shield with the heraldic bird of the town of Zwönitz (Saxony) is striking. The Bonitz family, which bears this coat of arms, actually comes from Kühnhaide, which is now incorporated into Zwönitz.

Another artistic adaptation of this coat of arms shows it in frontal view and with the same coloring as it was indicated by hatchings in the above representation.


For given reasons we would like to emphasize that this coat of arms may be used or adopted exclusively if the respective person can prove his descent from the family that has registered this coat of arms. A match of the family name alone is not sufficient. All other uses of the coat of arms are abusive and not permitted. Please respect the rights of the owner of the coat of arms!

The images show the Zwönitz coat of arms in two different variations.
They show a blue parrot sitting on a trifold hill. The origin of these city arms is related to the history and the close proximity to the Grünhain monastery:

Zwönitz was assigned to the Cistercian monastery Grünhain since approx. 1252. The city's coat of arms and seal were given to Zwönitz in 1475 by abbot Johannes Funke. The Grünhain monastery was founded in 1235 by monks from the Sittichenbach monastery, Mansfeld district. "Sittich" in German means parakeet or parrot. Therefore, the Sittichenbach monastery had two parrots in their coat of arms since 1362, and consequently this symbol was passed on to the new property Zwönitz.

An other legend tells that the city councilmen once were extremely undisciplined during a council meeting. As they were yelling all over the room, the abbot said they went on like a flock of parrots. This is how the city got its bird in the coat of arms.

Clausthal-Zellerfeld - coat of arms.
Today's city of Clausthal-Zellerfeld was founded 1924 by merging the two mining communities Clausthal and Zellerfeld. The arms were granted in 1934. The arms are based on the old seal of Clausthal, which is known since 1556. The miner's tools indicate the importance of mining in the area, already in the 15th century. The lion is the lion of Welfen dynasty, as the area historically belonged to Hannover, ruled by the Welfen family. The cross and crucifixion-scene are canting; a small chapel is called "Klause" in German.
The original arms of 1934 were simplified in 1955 to the present arms.