NameCensus.

UK surname

Manifold

A surname referring to something of multiple varieties or types.

In the 1881 census there were 322 people recorded with the Manifold surname, ranking it #9,262 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 435, ranked #11,084, down from #9,262 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alton, Eastham and Glossop. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent and Lichfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Manifold is 454 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.1%.

1881 census count

322

Ranked #9,262

Modern count

435

2016, ranked #11,084

Peak year

2002

454 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Manifold had 322 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,262 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 435 in 2016, ranked #11,084.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 359 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Manifold surname distribution map

The map shows where the Manifold surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Manifold surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Manifold over time

The 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 206 #10,183
1861 historical 201 #11,949
1881 historical 322 #9,262
1891 historical 328 #10,348
1901 historical 343 #10,583
1911 historical 359 #10,084
1997 modern 383 #11,359
1998 modern 434 #10,694
1999 modern 445 #10,535
2000 modern 433 #10,750
2001 modern 443 #10,371
2002 modern 454 #10,367
2003 modern 440 #10,475
2004 modern 440 #10,494
2005 modern 426 #10,649
2006 modern 439 #10,454
2007 modern 431 #10,703
2008 modern 433 #10,776
2009 modern 428 #11,112
2010 modern 438 #11,140
2011 modern 438 #11,017
2012 modern 430 #11,065
2013 modern 433 #11,184
2014 modern 443 #11,038
2015 modern 443 #10,957
2016 modern 435 #11,084

Geography

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Where Manifolds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alton, Eastham, Glossop, Toxteth Park and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Lichfield, Cheshire East and Wyre. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Alton Staffordshire
2 Eastham Cheshire
3 Glossop Derbyshire
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 045 Liverpool
2 Stoke-on-Trent 001 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Lichfield 002 Lichfield
4 Cheshire East 026 Cheshire East
5 Wyre 004 Wyre

Forenames

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First names often paired with Manifold

These lists show first names that appear often with the Manifold surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Manifold

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Manifold, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Manifold surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Manifold household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Manifold is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Manifold is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Manifold falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Manifold is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Manifold, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Manifold

The surname Manifold is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "manifald," which meant "abundant" or "plentiful." This name may have initially referred to someone who lived in an area with abundant resources or fertile land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Manifold can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a record of landholdings and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, the name appears as "Manifold" in reference to an individual living in Staffordshire.

During the 13th century, the name Manifold was associated with several places in England, including the village of Manifold in Staffordshire and the River Manifold, which flows through the county. These place names likely contributed to the widespread use of the surname in the region.

Notable individuals with the surname Manifold throughout history include John Manifold (1625-1695), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Leicestershire in the late 17th century. Another prominent figure was Sir William Manifold (1718-1792), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, Charles Manifold (1810-1883) was an English businessman and philanthropist who founded the Manifold Manufacturing Company in Birmingham. He was known for his charitable contributions to various causes, including education and poverty relief.

The name Manifold also appears in literary works, such as the novel "The Manifold Witness" by John Masefield (1878-1967), a renowned English poet and writer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1930.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Manifold was Sir Michael Manifold (1924-2015), a British diplomat and civil servant who served as the Governor of the British Virgin Islands from 1977 to 1982.

Throughout its history, the surname Manifold has been associated with various occupations, including landowners, politicians, military personnel, businessmen, and writers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Manifold families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Manifold surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 99 Manifolds recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.64x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 99 2.64x
Staffordshire 88 8.25x
Cheshire 70 10.03x
Derbyshire 23 4.65x
Flintshire 11 12.95x
Yorkshire 10 0.32x
Devon 7 1.06x
Herefordshire 6 4.63x
Middlesex 3 0.09x
Argyllshire 2 2.27x
Isle of Man 2 3.41x
Lanarkshire 1 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.00x
Warwickshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 24 Manifolds recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.90x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 24 18.90x
Sutton In Macclesfield 15 207.18x
Rocester 13 984.85x
Sheen 13 2888.89x
Whitby 11 683.23x
Liverpool 10 4.39x
Rugeley 10 130.72x
West Derby 10 9.11x
Godley 9 596.03x
Upholland 9 187.11x
Everton 8 6.69x
Lower Bebington 8 193.24x
Norton In Moors 8 141.59x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 7.07x
Wolstanton 8 24.69x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 7 214.72x
Kimberworth 7 40.28x
Pendlebury 7 88.38x
Whitchurch 7 603.45x
Ardwick 6 17.74x
Bredbury 6 148.51x
Hawarden 6 89.96x
Alton 5 434.78x
Cheadle 5 97.66x
Coddington 5 3333.33x
Farley 5 980.39x
Hawarden Saltney 5 420.17x
Hyde 5 24.28x
Weaverham Cum Milton 5 271.74x
Cronton 4 784.31x
Derby St Alkmund 4 26.97x
Derby St Peter 4 25.38x
Fawfieldhead 4 588.24x
Halewood 4 199.01x
Widnes 4 14.79x
Buxton 3 71.60x
Higher Bebington 3 67.11x
Openshaw 3 17.08x
Uttoxeter 3 54.95x
Bingley 2 10.03x
Birkenhead 2 3.60x
Chelsea London 2 2.10x
Dunoon Kilmun 2 29.15x
Findern 2 454.55x
Gorton 2 5.67x
Great Crosby 2 19.57x
Hartington Nether 2 487.80x
Little Stanney 2 1176.47x
Malew 2 38.99x
Manchester 2 1.19x
Birkdale 1 10.54x
Cheddleton 1 44.84x
Claughton With Grange 1 31.45x
Colwall 1 62.11x
Dilhorne 1 56.18x
Draycott In Clay 1 204.08x
Edgbaston 1 4.05x
Garston 1 9.03x
Govan 1 0.40x
Great Lever 1 25.13x
Great Sutton 1 277.78x
Hattersley 1 344.83x
Ledsham 1 1111.11x
Leek Lowe 1 7.05x
Longnor 1 172.41x
Milford Haven 1 121.95x
Offcote Underwood 1 196.08x
Pendleton In Salford 1 2.24x
Skircoat 1 8.10x
St Pancras London 1 0.39x
Stanton 1 294.12x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Manifold surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Manifold surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 25
John 17
Joseph 17
Thomas 11
Charles 10
George 9
James 8
Peter 7
Samuel 6
Edward 5
Henry 5
Arthur 3
Leonard 3
Alfred 2
Ralph 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Albrecht 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jeremiah 1
Josiah 1
Mark 1
Michel 1
Ralp 1
Richad 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Manifold surname: questions and answers

How common was the Manifold surname in 1881?

In 1881, 322 people were recorded with the Manifold surname. That placed it at #9,262 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Manifold surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 435 in 2016. That gives Manifold a modern rank of #11,084.

What does the Manifold surname mean?

A surname referring to something of multiple varieties or types.

What does the Manifold map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Manifold bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.