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Manton History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Manton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The ancient Viking-Scottish name Manton is derived 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 Manton family

The surname Manton 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 Manton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Manton 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 Manton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Manton Spelling Variations

The spellings of Scottish names dating from the medieval era often bear little resemblance to those seen today. They vary enormously because scribes in that time spelled according to their ears. Some spelling variations of the name Manton include Manson, Manseon, Mansson, Mainson, Monson, Mansoun, Magnuson and many more.

Early Notables of the Manton 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
Joseph Manton (1766?-1836), the English gunmaker, was, according to the specification of a patent granted to him in April 1792, then established in business in Davies Street, Berkeley Square, London...

Manton migration to the United States +

The farms of Scottish settlers soon dotted the east coast of the colonies that would become the nations of the United States and Canada. Many of those migrants and their children went on to play important roles in the founding the great nations of North America. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Scottish name Manton or a variant listed above, including:

Manton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Manton, aged 30, British settler who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Abraham" 8
Pricilla Manton, who landed in Maryland in 1663 8
Sarah Manton, who arrived in Maryland in 1663 8
Luke Manton, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 8

Manton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Manton, who landed in Virginia in 1705 8
Nth Manton, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1738 8

Manton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Manton, aged 24, who landed in New York, NY in 1855 8
Peter Manton, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1860 8

Manton migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Manton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Manton, British Convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
William H. Manton, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harpley" in 1849 10
Robert Manton, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Hyderabad" 11

Manton 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:

Manton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Sarah Manton, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Sir George Grey" in 1864

Contemporary Notables of the name Manton (post 1700) +

Thomas J. Manton (1932-2006), American Democratic congressman, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York (1993-1999)
Thomas J. Manton (1932-2006), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from New York, 1985-99; Presidential Elector for New York, 2000; Member of Democratic National Committee from New York, 2004 12
Martin Thomas Manton (1880-1946), American politician, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York, 1916-18; Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, 1918-39 12
Edward Manton, American politician, Rhode Island Presidential Elector for Rhode Island, 1800 12
Charles Manton (b. 1868), American politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 51st District, 1922; Candidate for New York State Assembly from Chautauqua County 2nd District, 1923 12
Benjamin Dyer Manton (1829-1911), American politician, U.S. Consul in Colonia, 1884, 1897-1906 12
Sidnie Milana Manton FRS (1902-1979), British entomologist
Irene Manton FRS (1904-1988), British botanist
Glenn Manton (b. 1973), former Australian rules footballer
Joseph Manton (1766-1835), British gunsmith, best known for his early development of what would become the modern artillery shell

Historic Events for the Manton family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Ernest P Manton (b. 1912), English Cook (S) serving for the Royal Navy from Dover, Kent, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 13

The Manton 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.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HARPLEY 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Harpley.htm
South Australian Register Wednesday 15th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Hyderabad 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/hyderabad1854.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm