Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. au lion de sa.; au chef d'or, ch. de trois coquilles d'azur.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Manesis family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. au lion de sa.; au chef d'or, ch. de trois coquilles d'azur.”

The Manesis arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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.
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
The family name Manesis traces its roots back to the coastal region of Normandy, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Normandy was a hub of agricultural activity and maritime trade, which likely influenced the daily lives and occupations of early ancestors. The name itself reflects the linguistic patterns of the era, potentially evolving from local dialects or geographic markers common to the northern French provinces. As the family established itself in this region, they became part of the local social fabric, navigating the complex economic and political shifts that defined the French countryside during the reign of King Louis XIV. By maintaining a presence in Normandy, the early members of the family contributed to the long-standing traditions and community development of the area, leaving a historical footprint that spans several centuries.
Latin term meaning great or large.
