Mainwarrink History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of MainwarrinkWhat does the name Mainwarrink mean? Mainwarrink is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Mainwarrink family 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. 1 The family name Mainwarrink 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 Mainwarrink familyThe surname Mainwarrink 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." 2 3 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." 4 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." 4 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." 4 Early History of the Mainwarrink familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mainwarrink 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 Mainwarrink History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Mainwarrink Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Mainwaring, Maynwaring, Mannering and others. Early Notables of the Mainwarrink familyOutstanding 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... Migration of the Mainwarrink family to IrelandSome of the Mainwarrink family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Mainwarrink familyTo escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Mainwarrink or a variant listed above: 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 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.
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