Show ContentsMantell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Mantell reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Mantell family lived in Buckinghamshire. Their name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Mantell, near Gamages, Normandy.

Early Origins of the Mantell family

The surname Mantell was first found in Buckinghamshire.

"The name, as Mantel, dates from the Conquest in England. Turstin Mantel was a Baron in Buckinghamshire in 1086 (Domesday Book) where he also held some land under the Earl of Mortaine; and in 1115 King John granted Tottenhoe, in the same county, to Ralph Mantel. In 1210, Osbert Mantel is mentioned as enfeoffing Robert de Beauchamp; and another (if not the same, Ralph Mantel, as the deed is undated) granted Tottenhoe to Snelsham Priory; his son William and his brother Geoffrey witnessing the deed." [1]

Early History of the Mantell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mantell research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1086 and 1446 are included under the topic Early Mantell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mantell Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Mantell family name include Mantell, Mantle, Mantel, Mantelle, Manstell and others.

Early Notables of the Mantell family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Mantell of Northampton


United States Mantell migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Mantell family to immigrate North America:

Mantell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Elizabeth Mantell, who settled in Virginia with her husband in 1663

New Zealand Mantell migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Mantell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. W. B. D. Mantell, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 [2]
  • W B D Mantell, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Oriental
  • W. Mantell, aged 21, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
  • W. Mantell, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1860
  • Mr. John M Mantell, (b. 1835), aged 39, English plasterer from Kent travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mantell (post 1700) +

  • Robert Bruce Mantell (1854-1928), Scottish-born, American Shakespearean stage actor
  • Michael Mantell, American Copper Wing Award winning actor
  • Joe Mantell (1915-2010), American Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as "Angie" in the 1955 film Marty
  • Thomas F. Mantell (d. 1948), American pilot, eponym of the Mantell UFO incident
  • David Norman Mantell (b. 1934), former English cricketer
  • Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell (1820-1895), English-born, New Zealand scientist, politician, founder and first secretary of the New Zealand Institute
  • Gideon Algernon Mantell (1790-1852), English paleontologist
  • Simon Mantell (b. 1984), British field hockey player
  • Richard Mantell (b. 1984), British field hockey player


  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
  2. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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