Today's generation of the Monell family bears a name that was brought to
England by the migration wave that was started by the
Norman Conquest of 1066. The Monell family lived in the places named Manley in
Cheshire. The place-name was originally derived from the Old English word
moene, which means
common or
shared, and
leah, which means
wood or
clearing. This surname is still found most frequently around the villages of Manley in
Devon and Cheshire.
Early Origins of the Monell family
The surname Monell was first found in
Cheshire at Manley, a village and civil parish in the union of Runcorn, Second division of the
hundred of Eddisbury that dates back to the
Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Menlie. The place name literally means "common wood or clearing," having derived from the Old English words maene + leah.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) The surname is ancient. In fact, the coat of arms described later in this history traces it's origin to a registration in the Battell Abbey Roll as one of the "companions in arms" of the Conqueror.
Early History of the Monell family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Monell research.
Another 263 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1157, 1520, 1622, 1699, 1659, 1672 and 1724 are included under the topic Early Monell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Monell Spelling Variations
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago,
spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Monell include Manley, Mandley, Mandly, Manly, Mannley and others.
Early Notables of the Monell family (pre 1700)
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Manley (c 1622-1699), an English politician, Post Master General, Member of Parliament for Denbigh Boroughs in 1659; and...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Monell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Monell family to Ireland
Some of the Monell family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 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 Monell family to the New World and Oceana
In
England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Monells to arrive on North American shores:
Monell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Edward Monell, aged 28, who landed in New York in 1812 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Monell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Maude Monell Monell, aged 27, who landed in America, in 1904
- Wye Monell, aged 38, who emigrated to the United States, in 1905
- Maude M. Monell, aged 28, who settled in America, in 1905
- Mary Monell, aged 72, who landed in America, in 1907
- Alice Monell, aged 27, who settled in America, in 1907
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Monell (post 1700)
- Robert Monell (1787-1860), American Democrat politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Chenango County, 1814-15, 1825-26, 1828; U.S. Representative from New York, 1819-21, 1829-31 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Joseph Dwight Monell (1781-1861), American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Columbia County, 1824 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Robert Monell (1786-1860), American lawyer and politician from New York
The Monell 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: Manus haec inimica tyrannis
Motto Translation: This hand is hostile to tyrants.