A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Marek family of Germany.
Reg. 7401 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or à la fasce échiq. de gu. et d'arg. de trois tires. Cq. cour C.: deux cornes de buffle, celle à dextre échiq. de gu. et d'arg., celle à sen. d'or plein. L. d'or et de gu.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1754
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 Germany showing where the Marek arms are recorded
The Marek arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1754.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Marek arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Marek Family in Germany
The surname Marek is a variant of the name Marcus, which finds its roots in the ancient Latin name Marcus, meaning dedicated to Mars, the Roman god of war. Over many centuries, this name spread across Europe and evolved into various regional forms as it was adopted by different cultures. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the Marek family was well-established in the Westphalia region of Germany. During this era, families in Westphalia often lived in small, tight-knit agricultural communities where names were passed down through generations to maintain a clear sense of lineage. Because the region was a crossroads for trade and migration, the Marek name likely gained its local prominence through the steady work of farmers and craftsmen who helped build the social fabric of their villages. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant transition in German history, where local records began to track family movements more closely, cementing the presence of the Marek name in the historical landscape of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Marcus
Derived from the Roman god of war Mars.
This name
MarekA Germanic and Slavic variant signifying a connection to the god of war.
also spelled
Marrek
Mareck
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Kirchenbücher und Personenstandsregister der westfälischen Provinzen, 1754
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.