Like in all other village along the lake of Zürich, archeological findings indicate settlements in the stone ages. The original settlement in the 7th or 8th century was called village of Manno (Dorf des Manno). The coats of arms is that of reeve Ottikon: an upright otter on a golden background.
The village originally housed fishermen, farmers and winegrowers. Männedorf was once owned by the monastery of Pfäfers. It later developed to become the home of the bailiwick of Zürich from 1405 until 1798. After the commencement of the railway Zürich-Meilen- Rapperswil in 1894 the village blossomed. Many businesses of handicraft, trade and industry were established. Most notably probably a tannery, organ-building and precision mechanics. There was also a mill, a smithy, a public bath and a growing number of guesthouses.
By today Männedorf has become part of the Zürich agglomeration like all the villages in the region.