UK surname
A surname derived from a pet form of the French name "Manoël" or "Emmanuel".
In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Manell surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #30,872 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Christ Church Spitalfields, St John Westminster and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Manell is 131 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 94.7%.
1881 census count
19
Ranked #30,872
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
131 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Manell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Manell surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 30 | #27,891 |
| 1861 | historical | 131 | #17,052 |
| 1881 | historical | 19 | #30,872 |
| 1891 | historical | 43 | #30,933 |
| 1901 | historical | 13 | #32,633 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Christ Church Spitalfields, St John Westminster, Lambeth, Standish and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christ Church Spitalfields | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | St John Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Standish | Lancashire |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Manell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Manell, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Manell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Manell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Manell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Manell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Manell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Manell has its origins in France, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the French word "manoir," meaning "manor" or "estate," suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with a person who resided on a large property or held a position of authority within a feudal manor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Manell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This document mentions a landowner named Manell in the county of Hertfordshire.
In the 13th century, the name Manell appeared in various administrative and legal documents throughout Normandy and northern France. One notable bearer of the name was Jacques de Manell, a knight who participated in the Eighth Crusade led by King Louis IX of France in 1270.
During the 14th century, the Manell family established a presence in the region of Brittany, where they owned several estates and played a significant role in local affairs. One prominent member of the family was René de Manell (1325-1402), a nobleman and military commander who served under the Duke of Brittany.
In the 16th century, the name Manell spread to other parts of Europe, including England and Germany. In 1582, a German scholar named Johann Manell (1532-1611) published a influential work on the study of ancient languages and philology.
The 17th century saw the emergence of a branch of the Manell family in England, where they settled in the county of Yorkshire. One noteworthy individual was Sir William Manell (1628-1691), a prominent landowner and member of the English gentry who served as a justice of the peace.
Over the centuries, variations of the surname Manell emerged, such as Manelle, Mannell, and Maneli, reflecting regional linguistic differences and spelling preferences. However, the core meaning and association with landed estates and nobility remained consistent across these variations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Manell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 3 Manells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 3 | 1.85x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 19.53x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 12.95x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 4.34x |
| Surrey | 2 | 3.01x |
| Kent | 1 | 2.15x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 5.44x |
| Sussex | 1 | 4.35x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Bolton in Lancashire leads with 3 Manells recorded in 1881 and an index of 140.19x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Great Bolton | 3 | 140.19x |
| Bray | 2 | 666.67x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 22.96x |
| St Clement | 2 | 1250.00x |
| Wolstanton | 2 | 142.86x |
| Brighton | 1 | 21.55x |
| East Retford | 1 | 625.00x |
| Frittenden | 1 | 2500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Manell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Ann | 1 |
| Christiana | 1 |
| Katie | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Mary | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Manell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Manell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Ironworker | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Gas Laborer | 1 |
| Ostler (Dom Farm) | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Manell surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Manell a modern rank of #39,061.
A surname derived from a pet form of the French name "Manoël" or "Emmanuel".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Manell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.