A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Manek family of Switzerland.
Reg. 4594 · Swiss, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Tranché: au 1 d'azur à un croiss. tourné d'or, posé en bande; au 2 d'arg. à une pointe ployée de gu., posée en barre, mouv. du canton dextre de la p. C.: un croiss. montant d'or. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Switzerland showing where the Manek arms are recorded
The Manek arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Manek Family in Switzerland
The family name Manek has deep roots in the historical records of Bern, Switzerland, where members of the family were documented as early as 1745. During this period, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict social hierarchy, and families like the Maneks were often integrated into the local craft guilds or agricultural communities that supported the city’s economy. The name itself likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns, possibly serving as a descriptive term or a shortened version of a longer given name common in the German-speaking cantons. As residents of Bern, the early Maneks lived through a time of significant political stability and economic growth, which allowed families to establish long-standing roots in the region. By maintaining their presence in the city archives, these early ancestors helped preserve the identity of the family name for future generations to trace.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Magnus
Latin term meaning great or large.
This name
ManekA diminutive or variant form derived from the Latin word for greatness.
also spelled
Manek
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bern (1745)
Dubler, Anne-Marie, Stadt und Land in der Schweiz des 18. Jahrhunderts (1995)
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
