Show ContentsMannewarine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Mannewarine family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in a place that in Anglo-Norman French was named Mesnil Warin, which means domain of Warin. The Mesnil-Garin's were a well-known Norman family. The family name Mannewarine was brought to England after the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror gave his friends and relatives most of the land formerly owned by Anglo-Saxon aristocrats. The Normans frequently used the name of their estate in Normandy as part of their name. They also imported a vast number of Norman French personal names, which largely replaced traditional Old English personal names among the upper and middle classes.

Early Origins of the Mannewarine family

The surname Mannewarine was first found in Cheshire where "Randulphus de Mesniwarin, who accompanied William the Conqueror, and received from him Warmingham, Peover, and thirteen other lordships in Cheshire, together with one in Norfolk. His descendants spread into many branches in Cheshire, and into northern counties." 1 2

Sir William Dugdale stated "the name of this celebrated family has been spelt in the astonishing number of one hundred and thirty-five forms, in old records and more modern writings."

Also in Cheshire, Ashton was an ancient family seat. "The manor [of Ashton] was held in the reign of Edward I. by the Mainwaring family, from whom it descended by female heirs to the Veres and Trussells." 3

However some of the family were found south in Devon. "In the reign of Elizabeth the manor [of Sidmouth] was leased to Sir William Perryan, and in that of James I. to Sir Christopher Mainwaring; it was subsequently sold to Sir Edmond Prideaux, with the exception of the great tithes, which were given to Wadham College." 3

And another branch of the family was found at Baddiley in Cheshire. "Baddiley Hall, once the noble residence of the Mainwarings, is now a farmhouse." 3

Early History of the Mannewarine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mannewarine research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1515, 1586, 1589, 1616, 1623, 1625, 1634, 1653, 1656, 1660, 1661, 1689 and 1702 are included under the topic Early Mannewarine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mannewarine Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Mainwaring, Maynwaring, Mannering and others.

Early Notables of the Mannewarine family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Philip Mainwaring (1589-1661), Principal Secretary to the Lord Deputy of Ireland (1634) and English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1625 and 1661; Sir Thomas Mainwaring, 1st Baronet (1623-1689), Member of Parliament for Cheshire 1660; Sir John Mainwaring, 2nd Baronet (1656-1702), Member of Parliament for Cheshire 1689-1702; and Sir...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mannewarine Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Mannewarine family to Ireland

Some of the Mannewarine family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Mannewarine family

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Mannewarine name or one of its variants: Joseph Mannering, who settled in Boston in 1631; Thomas Mainwaring, who settled in New Jersey in 1664; as well as Charles and James Mainwaring settled in Virginia in 1767..



The Mannewarine Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Devant si je puis
Motto Translation: Foremost if I can.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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