A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Maness family of Switzerland.
Reg. 5044 · Swiss, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 deux hommes, arm. de cottes de mailles, le casque conique en tête, se battant, l'un baissé embrassant l'autre par les cuisses, l'autre l'épée levée, le tout d'arg. C.: deux têtes et cols de coq accostées de gu.; ou, la tête de l'un des hommes de l'écu.”
SwitzerlandZurich, c. 1745
Where the Maness Arms Were Recorded
Zurich
Map of Switzerland showing where the Maness arms are recorded
The Maness arms were recorded in Zurich, c. 1745.
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 Maness Family in Switzerland
The surname Maness is deeply connected to the historical landscape of the German-speaking regions of Europe. Records indicate that members of the family were well-established in Zurich by 1745, where they lived as part of the local community during a period of significant social and economic change. The name itself is thought to have evolved from older Germanic naming traditions, likely serving as a descriptive term or a shortened version of a longer personal name common in the Middle Ages. As families moved throughout the Swiss cantons and eventually across the Atlantic, the spelling of the name often shifted to reflect the local dialects and languages of their new homes. Despite these variations, the family maintained a presence in trade and civic life, contributing to the development of the regions where they settled.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Magnus
Latin term meaning great or large in stature or importance.
This name
ManessA patronymic surname derived from the personal name Magnus, signifying descendant of the great one.
also spelled
Manese
Manes
Maness
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Eheregister (1745)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt (1967)
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich (1903)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
knightChivalry and service in arms
swordJustice, and military honour
knightChivalry and service in arms
swordJustice, and military honour
