Map of Germany showing where the Schnake arms are recorded
The Schnake arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
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 Schnake 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 Schnake Family in Germany
The surname Schnake is deeply rooted in the historical region of Westphalia, Germany, where records confirm the family was well-established by the mid-eighteenth century. The name itself is thought to be a topographic or descriptive nickname, likely derived from the Middle Low German word "snake," which refers to a snake or a serpent. In many cases, such names were given to individuals based on their physical agility, a quick temperament, or perhaps because they lived near a winding stream that resembled a snake. By 1765, families bearing this name were integrated into the rural life of Westphalia, participating in the agricultural traditions and local governance typical of the era. As members of a society defined by village communities and parish life, the early Schnakes were likely farmers or skilled tradespeople who helped shape the local economy of the Prussian province. Over time, the family name became a permanent fixture in the region, reflecting the linguistic patterns and cultural identity of the Westphalian people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schnake
Middle High German word for a gnat or mosquito.
This name
SchnakeA nickname for a person who was considered annoying, small, or thin.
also spelled
Swenke
Schwenkee
Swenkee
Shwenka
Shwenke
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1971
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Personenstandsregister und Kirchenbücher der Westfälischen Provinzen
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