A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Zwack family of Germany.
Reg. 6672 · German
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'or au lion de gu., tenant entre ses pattes une paire de tenailles au nat.; au 2 d'arg. à trois bandes d'azur. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° le lion du 1, iss.; 2° un demi-vol coupé d'azur sur arg., l'azur ch. d'un soleil d'or.”
Germanyc. 1792
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Map of Germany showing where the Zwack arms are recorded
The Zwack arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1792.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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.
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
1790–1792
Reigning in Germany when the Zwack 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Zwack Family in Germany
The surname Zwack is rooted in the linguistic landscape of Southern Germany, specifically within the Bavarian region where the family was well-established by the late eighteenth century. The name is considered a topographic or descriptive surname, likely originating from a Middle High German term that referred to someone living near a specific landmark or possessing a distinct personality trait. During the late 1700s, families bearing this name were often integrated into the local agrarian and artisan communities of Bavaria, where they lived through a period of significant political transition as the region moved toward the formation of the modern German state. Because the name is relatively rare and geographically concentrated, it suggests that early members of the family likely maintained strong ties to their local parishes and regional trade networks. By 1792, the Zwack family was already a recognized part of the social fabric in their home districts, participating in the daily economic life that defined the Bavarian countryside before the onset of the Napoleonic Wars.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Zwacke
A Middle High German term referring to a peg, wedge, or clamp.
This name
ZwackLikely a nickname for a person who was thin, sharp, or acted like a wedge.
also spelled
Zwak
Swack
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
