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.
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] 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.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Monell research. Another 132 words (9 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.
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.
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.
Some of the Monell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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: