NameCensus.

UK surname

Manion

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O Mainnin," meaning "descendant of Mainnin," a personal name of unknown meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 427 people recorded with the Manion surname, ranking it #7,608 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 340, ranked #13,456, down from #7,608 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Wolstanton and Leeds. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Liverpool and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Manion is 427 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.4%.

1881 census count

427

Ranked #7,608

Modern count

340

2016, ranked #13,456

Peak year

1881

427 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Manion had 427 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,608 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 340 in 2016, ranked #13,456.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 427 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Manion surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Manion surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Manion 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 106 #16,512
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 427 #7,608
1891 historical 311 #10,781
1901 historical 345 #10,541
1911 historical 320 #10,932
1997 modern 310 #13,241
1998 modern 339 #12,810
1999 modern 344 #12,776
2000 modern 340 #12,824
2001 modern 323 #13,083
2002 modern 327 #13,217
2003 modern 317 #13,328
2004 modern 314 #13,473
2005 modern 317 #13,323
2006 modern 320 #13,289
2007 modern 332 #13,087
2008 modern 340 #12,989
2009 modern 355 #12,832
2010 modern 371 #12,679
2011 modern 363 #12,738
2012 modern 362 #12,615
2013 modern 362 #12,843
2014 modern 360 #13,006
2015 modern 358 #12,942
2016 modern 340 #13,456

Geography

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Where Manions are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Wolstanton, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Liverpool and County Durham. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 031 Doncaster
2 Doncaster 029 Doncaster
3 Liverpool 019 Liverpool
4 Doncaster 012 Doncaster
5 County Durham 061 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Manion

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Manion

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Manion surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Manion household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Manion 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

Manion is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Manion falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Manion is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Manion

The surname Manion has its origins in Ireland, where it is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Manachain. This name is derived from the Irish word "manach," meaning "monk," suggesting that the original bearer may have been a monk or had some connection with a monastery.

The Manion name can be traced back to the 12th century in County Monaghan, Ireland, where the Ó Manachain clan was based. The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a certain Gilla-na-naem Ó Manachain in the year 1168.

During the Tudor conquest of Ireland in the 16th century, many Irish surnames underwent Anglicization, and Ó Manachain became Manion. This process was often carried out by English scribes who transcribed the names according to their phonetic spelling.

One notable figure in Irish history bearing the Manion surname was Roger Manion (c. 1625-1673), a Catholic lawyer and landowner from County Monaghan. He was a prominent supporter of the Confederation of Kilkenny, a movement that sought to defend the rights of Irish Catholics during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

In the 18th century, James Manion (1748-1830) was a renowned Irish architect who designed numerous buildings in Dublin, including the Provost's House at Trinity College and the Royal Exchange.

Another significant individual with the Manion name was John Manion (1840-1923), an Irish-American prelate who served as the Bishop of Trenton, New Jersey, from 1892 to 1917.

In more recent history, Michael Manion (1920-1999) was an Irish-American actor and comedian, best known for his roles in movies such as "Midnight Cowboy" and "The Sting."

Additionally, the name Manion has been associated with several places in Ireland, such as Manionstown, a townland in County Monaghan, and Manorhamilton, a town in County Leitrim, which may have derived its name from the Gaelic "Manachain," meaning "monks' land."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Manion families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Manion 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 175 Manions recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.57x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 175 3.57x
Cheshire 63 6.90x
Yorkshire 60 1.46x
Staffordshire 49 3.51x
Durham 18 1.46x
Shropshire 14 3.92x
Derbyshire 12 1.85x
Middlesex 7 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.26x
Cardiganshire 4 3.96x
Midlothian 3 0.54x
Channel Islands 1 0.82x
Devon 1 0.12x
Dorset 1 0.37x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.90x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Herefordshire 1 0.59x
Leicestershire 1 0.22x
Northamptonshire 1 0.26x
Sussex 1 0.14x
Warwickshire 1 0.10x
Wiltshire 1 0.27x
Worcestershire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 37 Manions recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.35x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 37 28.35x
Warrington 25 42.97x
Manchester 17 7.70x
Wolstanton 15 35.38x
Liverpool 14 4.70x
Stockport 13 27.67x
Leeds 10 4.32x
Newchurch 10 24.91x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 6.75x
Ashton Under Lyne 9 8.39x
Birkenhead 8 10.99x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 10.26x
Everton 8 5.11x
Latchford 8 131.80x
Sale 8 71.43x
Stockton On Tees 8 13.49x
Sutton 8 48.60x
Macclesfield 7 17.25x
Newton In Ashton Under 7 77.69x
Nottingham St Mary 7 4.85x
Preston 7 5.33x
Cheadle 6 89.42x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 11.26x
Thornham 6 226.42x
Whitchurch 6 86.58x
Newton 5 13.22x
Parr 5 28.47x
Walsall Foreign 5 6.93x
Birtle Cum Bamford 4 125.00x
Burslem 4 10.00x
Bury 4 7.14x
Gateshead 4 4.34x
Kirkdale 4 4.85x
Leftwich 4 98.77x
Newton In Makerfield 4 26.61x
Oldham 4 2.53x
Parcel Canol 4 500.00x
Shrewsbury St Mary 4 28.37x
Whittington 4 44.64x
Wombridge 4 90.70x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 7.70x
Burton Upon Trent 3 9.19x
Edinburgh New 3 69.77x
North Meols 3 6.24x
Salford 3 2.08x
St Luke London 3 4.52x
Withington 3 18.98x
York St Saviour 3 76.73x
Blackburn 2 1.53x
Bradford 2 2.02x
Chelsea London 2 1.60x
Conisbrough 2 51.95x
Derby St Werburgh 2 5.35x
Ditton 2 99.50x
Haydock 2 23.64x
Heap 2 7.68x
Ilkeston 2 11.02x
Islington London 2 0.50x
Pennington In Leigh 2 21.23x
Rugeley 2 19.96x
Widnes 2 5.65x
Ashborne 1 22.73x
Barnsley 1 2.37x
Brighton 1 0.71x
Chester St John Baptist 1 6.09x
Eccleshall 1 18.90x
Glossop Dale 1 3.30x
Harborne 1 2.24x
Lower Bebington 1 18.45x
Lymm 1 15.06x
Salterforth 1 181.82x
St Helier 1 2.51x
St Thomas Winchester 1 16.69x
Staveley 1 8.70x
Stretford 1 3.70x
Wakefield 1 3.18x
Warwick St Mary 1 11.04x
Westleigh 1 8.97x
Worsley 1 3.31x
Wuerdle Wardle 1 6.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Bridget 17
Margaret 17
Catherine 12
Ellen 12
Annie 9
Elizabeth 7
Sarah 7
Ann 6
Maria 4
Catharine 2
Eliza 2
Jane 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Alex.A. 1
Anne 1
Clara 1
Delia 1
Ellan 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Honora 1
Honour 1
Juley 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
May 1
Nora 1
Norah 1
Prudence 1
Rosannah 1
S.E. 1
Sabina 1
Sabrina 1
Selina 1
Teresa 1
Theresa 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 41
Michael 34
Patrick 30
James 27
Thomas 26
William 12
Martin 6
Peter 6
Edward 5
Thos. 5
Joseph 4
Bernard 3
Dennis 2
Frank 2
George 2
Hugh 2
Timothy 2
Alexr. 1
Andrew 1
Billy 1
Catherine 1
Charles 1
Darby 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Ethelbert 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Jno. 1
Laurence 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Mical 1
Michl. 1
Pat 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
W.A. 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1
Wm.B. 1

FAQ

Manion surname: questions and answers

How common was the Manion surname in 1881?

In 1881, 427 people were recorded with the Manion surname. That placed it at #7,608 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Manion surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 340 in 2016. That gives Manion a modern rank of #13,456.

What does the Manion surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O Mainnin," meaning "descendant of Mainnin," a personal name of unknown meaning.

What does the Manion map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Manion 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.