Show ContentsManderson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Viking settlers in ancient Scotland were the ancestors of the first people to use the name Manderson. It comes from the personal name Magnus, which is derived from the Latin word magnus, which means great. This name was popular among the Norsemen and was borrowed in honor of Charlemagne, who was known as Carolus Magnus in Latin. 1 2

Early Origins of the Manderson family

The surname Manderson was first found in Caithness (Gaelic: Gallaibh), the northern tip of Scotland, and in Shetland. The name has evolved from the name Magnusson, as in "son of Magnus."

"Magnus (Latin, 'great') was a popular name among the Norsemen and was borrowed by them in admiration of Charlemagne (in Latin, Carolus Magnus). "It is worth remembering," says Dr. Alexander Bugge, "that long before the birth of Magnus the Good the name Magnus was used among Norse kings of Man and the Hebrides. The first persons who bear this name are Magnus mac Arailt, a chieftain from the Hebrides, in 972, and Magnus Berna (i. e. Magnus son of Bjorn) from Limerick, who probably was akin to the chieftains from the Hebrides. When Sighvat Skald named the new-born son of St. Olav Magnus after Charlemagne, it was probably not his own invention. He had most likely heard the name in the British Isles, and knew that it was derived from the great Emperor." 3

Over the years, a wide variety of spellings were in use by the family: "Jonas filius Magni was one of those who laid charges againSt David Meyner of Weem in 1427. Angus Mangson in Kirkwall in 1446 appears again in 1455 as Anguss Magniss, bailie of Kyrkwaw. David Manson was tenant of Petconnouchty, Ardmanoch, in 1504, Thomas Mainsoun appears in Dunrossness, Shetland, in 1602, Robert Mansone was burgess of Dornoch, 1669, and John Mansone, 'dene of gild, ' and three other Mansones took the Test in the burgh of Tain in 1685. 3

The Manston, Mainston and Mainstone variants are presumably derived from the same source. Manston is a small parish in Dorset. 4 5 This parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first recorded as Manestone. 6 Manston can also be found in Kent where it was known as Manneston in 1254. Both places literally mean "farmstead of a man called Mann," from the Old English personal name + "tun." 7

Early History of the Manderson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Manderson research. Another 208 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1000, 1490, 1524, 1567, 1568, 1569, 1574, 1582, 1602, 1620, 1625, 1674, 1677, 1726, 1732, 1752, 1765, 1766, 1792, 1825, 1836, 1850, 1860 and 1876 are included under the topic Early Manderson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Manderson Spelling Variations

Translation and spelling were non-standardized practices in the Middle Ages, so scribes had only their ears to rely on. This was a practice of extremely limited efficiency, and spelling variations in names, even within a single document, were the result. Over the years, Manderson has appeared Manson, Manseon, Mansson, Mainson, Monson, Mansoun, Magnuson and many more.

Early Notables of the Manderson family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Thomas Manton (1620-1677), an English Puritan clergyman, clerk to the Westminster Assembly and a chaplain to Oliver Cromwell.David Manson (1726-1792), school-master, son of John Manson and Agnes Jamieson, was probably born in the parish of Cairncastle, co. Antrim, in 1726. His parents being poor, he began life as a farmer's servantboy, but was allowed by his employer to attend a school kept by the Rev. Robert White in the neighbouring town of Lame. There he made such good progress that in a short time he himself opened a school in his native parish...
Another 255 words (18 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Manderson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Manderson migration to the United States +

The fertile east coast of what would become US and Canada was soon dotted with the farms of Scottish settlers. Some of them remained faithful to the crown and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others had the chance to pay back their old oppressors in the American War of Independence. That brave spirit lives on today in the highland games that dot North America in the summer. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Manderson family came to North America quite early:

Manderson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Manderson, who landed in America in 1805 8
  • Ella Manderson, aged 60, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896
  • Selma Manderson, aged 22, who landed in America from Malmo, in 1899
Manderson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ruby Manderson, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
  • Ethel Manderson, aged 17, who immigrated to the United States from Belfast, Ireland, in 1909
  • Clara Manderson, aged 40, who settled in America, in 1909
  • Edward W. Manderson, aged 34, who landed in America, in 1909
  • Sarah Manderson, aged 41, who immigrated to America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1909
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Manderson (post 1700) +

  • Charles Frederick Manderson (1837-1911), United States Senator from Nebraska
  • Charles Frederick Manderson (1837-1911), American Republican politician, Delegate to Nebraska State Constitutional Convention, 1871; Delegate to Nebraska State Constitutional Convention, 1875 9
  • Mr. Franz Manderson M.B.E., British recipient of Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to the Cayman Islands 10
  • Robert Manderson (b. 1962), professional Australian rules footballer
  • Tobias Alexander Edward Manderson (b. 1984), Australian actor, satirist, performance poet, dadaist and playwright
  • Bert Manderson (1893-1946), Northern Irish footballer

Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Walter George Manderson (d. 1914), British Assistant Saloon Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 11


The Manderson 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: Meae menor originis
Motto Translation: Mindful of my origin.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  6. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  7. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  10. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 31 October 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1
  11. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html


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