Map of England showing where the Mansker arms are recorded
The Mansker arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Mansker arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Mansker Family in England
The history of the Mansker name is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where family members were documented as early as 1620. During this period, Cornwall was a hub of mining and maritime activity, which likely shaped the daily lives and occupations of early ancestors. The name itself is thought to be a localized variation of older surnames found in the southwestern region of England. As the seventeenth century progressed, these individuals lived through a time of significant social change and religious transition in Britain. Many families from this area eventually sought new opportunities by moving to other parts of the British Isles or crossing the Atlantic to the American colonies. This migration pattern suggests that the early Manskers were resilient people who were willing to adapt to new environments to secure a better future for their descendants.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mann
Old English term for a person or human being.
This name
ManskerA locational surname derived from a dweller near a marsh or swampy land.
also spelled
Mansar
Maunser
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Polsue, Joseph. A Complete Parochial History of the County of Cornwall. 1867
The National Archives. Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11
Cornwall Archives. Cornwall Parish Registers, Baptisms and Burials 1600–1650
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