NameCensus.

UK surname

Mann

A surname of Germanic origin, meaning a person or a brave or strong man.

In the 1881 census there were 15,786 people recorded with the Mann surname, ranking it #253 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23,756, ranked #247, up from #253 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, East Cambridgeshire and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mann is 24,460 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.5%.

1881 census count

15,786

Ranked #253

Modern count

23,756

2016, ranked #247

Peak year

2010

24,460 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mann had 15,786 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #253 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 23,756 in 2016, ranked #247.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 20,213 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mann surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mann surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mann 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 9,907 #259
1861 historical 9,999 #258
1881 historical 15,786 #253
1891 historical 16,548 #248
1901 historical 20,213 #239
1911 historical 19,668 #229
1997 modern 22,897 #249
1998 modern 23,757 #248
1999 modern 23,893 #248
2000 modern 23,944 #247
2001 modern 23,362 #247
2002 modern 23,989 #246
2003 modern 23,376 #245
2004 modern 23,478 #243
2005 modern 23,083 #242
2006 modern 23,193 #239
2007 modern 23,304 #241
2008 modern 23,412 #242
2009 modern 23,899 #246
2010 modern 24,460 #244
2011 modern 24,174 #243
2012 modern 23,585 #244
2013 modern 24,062 #245
2014 modern 24,225 #245
2015 modern 23,938 #246
2016 modern 23,756 #247

Geography

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Where Manns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Lambeth and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing, East Cambridgeshire, Suffolk Coastal and Stratford-on-Avon. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 037 Ealing
2 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
3 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal
4 Stratford-on-Avon 005 Stratford-on-Avon
5 Ealing 026 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mann

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mann

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Mann is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mann 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

Mann falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mann is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mann

The surname MANN is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word "mann" meaning "man" or "person." It is believed to have first emerged as a surname in England during the 11th century, initially used as a descriptive name to identify an individual by their gender.

The earliest recorded instance of the MANN surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Mann" in various counties across England, including Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in certain regions by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the MANN surname was widespread across England, particularly in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. It is also found in various official records from this period, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and the Pipe Rolls of 1195.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the MANN surname was John Mann, a prominent English merchant and financier who lived in the 13th century. He is recorded as having lent substantial sums of money to King Henry III and played a significant role in the economic affairs of the kingdom.

Another influential figure with the MANN surname was Thomas Mann, a 16th-century English bishop and theologian. Born in 1496, he served as Bishop of Ely from 1561 until his death in 1569 and was a prominent figure during the English Reformation.

During the 17th century, the MANN surname gained prominence in the American colonies, with several individuals bearing this name arriving in the New World. One notable example is Nathaniel Mann, who was born in 1646 in Massachusetts and served as a captain during King Philip's War, a conflict between English colonists and Native Americans.

In the 18th century, the MANN surname was associated with several notable figures in the fields of literature and science. Sir Horace Mann, born in 1701, was a British diplomat and author who served as the British Resident at the Court of Florence for nearly fifty years.

Another influential individual with the MANN surname was Theodore Mann, a German-American scientist and inventor born in 1735. He is credited with developing the first practical alcohol thermometer and making significant contributions to the field of thermometry.

As the MANN surname spread across different regions and countries, it also acquired various spellings and variations, such as Man, Manne, and Mannes, reflecting the influence of local dialects and languages. However, the original Anglo-Saxon spelling of "MANN" remained the most prevalent form throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mann families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mann 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. Yorkshire leads with 2,072 Manns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.36x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 2,072 1.36x
Middlesex 1,655 1.08x
Surrey 939 1.25x
Norfolk 895 3.78x
Lancashire 843 0.46x
Essex 806 2.65x
Suffolk 679 3.62x
Warwickshire 594 1.53x
Angus 515 3.61x
Kent 468 0.89x
Sussex 458 1.77x
Gloucestershire 397 1.32x
Durham 389 0.85x
Devon 388 1.21x
Lanarkshire 384 0.77x
Staffordshire 334 0.64x
Worcestershire 283 1.41x
Nottinghamshire 282 1.36x
Aberdeenshire 278 1.95x
Bedfordshire 207 2.60x
Lincolnshire 207 0.84x
Midlothian 162 0.79x
Northamptonshire 162 1.12x
Leicestershire 159 0.93x
Cornwall 153 0.88x
Cambridgeshire 148 1.52x
Hampshire 143 0.45x
Cheshire 119 0.35x
Northumberland 114 0.50x
Banffshire 102 3.20x
Inverness-shire 99 2.15x
Cumberland 90 0.68x
Derbyshire 89 0.37x
Shetland 79 5.03x
Renfrewshire 71 0.60x
Wiltshire 63 0.46x
Hertfordshire 62 0.58x
Somerset 51 0.21x
Morayshire 50 2.09x
Ross-shire 50 1.18x
Herefordshire 49 0.78x
Perthshire 47 0.68x
Buckinghamshire 46 0.49x
Huntingdonshire 45 1.47x
Glamorgan 42 0.16x
Shropshire 38 0.29x
Fife 37 0.41x
Kincardineshire 36 1.92x
Berkshire 31 0.27x
Wigtownshire 31 1.52x
Stirlingshire 29 0.51x
Dorset 28 0.28x
Oxfordshire 21 0.22x
Channel Islands 19 0.42x
Monmouthshire 19 0.17x
Ayrshire 17 0.15x
Berwickshire 17 0.91x
Caithness 17 0.81x
Dunbartonshire 16 0.39x
Roxburghshire 16 0.57x
Royal Navy 14 0.76x
Carmarthenshire 13 0.20x
Nairnshire 13 2.77x
Selkirkshire 13 0.93x
East Lothian 12 0.59x
Argyllshire 11 0.26x
Denbighshire 8 0.14x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 0.31x
Westmorland 7 0.21x
Rutland 6 0.53x
West Lothian 6 0.26x
Buteshire 4 0.43x
Dumfriesshire 4 0.12x
Sutherland 4 0.34x
Anglesey 3 0.11x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.03x
Flintshire 2 0.05x
Kinross-shire 2 0.51x
Brecknockshire 1 0.03x
Cardiganshire 1 0.03x
Orkney 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 179 Manns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.33x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 179 1.33x
Leeds 174 2.02x
St Pancras London 173 1.40x
Birmingham 133 1.03x
Camberwell 133 1.35x
Nottingham St Mary 131 2.44x
St Marylebone London 124 1.51x
Dundee 119 2.24x
Barony 115 0.91x
Islington London 115 0.77x
West Ham 114 1.70x
Aston 100 0.94x
Hunslet 96 4.04x
Hackney London 91 1.05x
Manningham 91 4.84x
Mile End Old Town 86 3.54x
Kensington London 85 0.99x
Shoreditch London 82 1.23x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 80 3.00x
Heigham 80 6.30x
Mirfield 80 9.55x
Kirby Le Soken 78 178.61x
Govan 76 0.62x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 74 0.89x
Newington 74 1.30x
Bermondsey 72 1.57x
Brighton 71 1.36x
Great Yarmouth 71 3.62x
Paddington London 66 1.17x
Battersea 65 1.15x
Glasgow 65 0.74x
Liff Benvie 65 3.00x
St Vigeans 65 8.45x
Hastings All Sts 62 25.36x
Tetbury 61 35.65x
Holbeck 57 5.64x
Aberdeen Old Machar 55 1.85x
Bethnal Green London 54 0.81x
Paul 54 17.06x
Croydon 53 1.27x
Forfar 53 6.87x
Bradford 52 1.41x
Silsoe 50 139.59x
Clerkenwell London 46 1.27x
Deptford St Paul 46 1.14x
Liverpool 44 0.40x
Liversedge 43 6.33x
Rushmere 43 105.31x
Hadleigh 42 23.10x
Halifax 42 1.88x
Manchester 42 0.51x
Poplar London 42 1.45x
Bramley In Bramley 41 7.02x
Ipswich St Margaret 41 6.45x
West Derby 41 0.77x
Harborne 40 2.40x
Idle 40 5.66x
Inverness 40 3.46x
Earls Colne 39 46.53x
Hammersmith London 39 1.03x
Pudsey 39 4.78x
Bromley London 38 1.12x
Eastbourne 38 3.18x
Great Bolton 38 1.57x
Leicester St Mary 38 2.76x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 38 26.40x
Sheffield 38 0.78x
Coventry Holy Trinity 37 3.19x
Gomersal 36 5.06x
Leamington Priors 35 3.67x
Oldham 35 0.59x
Leicester St Margaret 34 0.82x
Little Bolton 34 1.45x
Ampthill 33 27.74x
Kidderminster Borough 33 2.81x
Plymouth St Andrew 33 1.34x
Soham 33 15.73x
Stoke Upon Trent 33 0.60x
Worsley 33 2.93x
Arbroath 32 6.77x
Barnsley 32 2.03x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 32 4.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 868
Elizabeth 492
Sarah 482
Eliza 260
Emma 225
Jane 224
Alice 212
Ann 209
Annie 206
Ellen 184
Emily 164
Hannah 154
Louisa 135
Martha 115
Margaret 108
Caroline 104
Edith 90
Harriet 89
Florence 88
Charlotte 81
Fanny 81
Maria 78
Ada 77
Kate 70
Susan 69
Catherine 64
Clara 64
Lucy 64
Frances 58
Agnes 53
Harriett 46
Amelia 42
Isabella 41
Matilda 41
Rebecca 40
Susannah 39
Esther 38
Jessie 38
Anne 32
Elizth. 32
Rose 32
Gertrude 31
Julia 31
Minnie 29
Eleanor 27
Ruth 26
Anna 25
Ethel 25
Sophia 25
Amy 24

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 862
John 740
George 477
James 446
Thomas 411
Charles 282
Henry 278
Joseph 229
Robert 194
Alfred 171
Arthur 163
Frederick 157
Edward 149
Walter 126
Richard 116
Albert 99
Harry 92
Samuel 87
Ernest 57
Frank 57
David 52
Herbert 52
Wm. 49
Fred 39
Isaac 38
Edwin 34
Benjamin 32
Francis 30
Horace 28
Peter 26
Stephen 20
Daniel 18
Alexander 16
Percy 16
Christopher 15
Edgar 15
Michael 15
Geo. 14
Thos. 14
Fredrick 13
Sam 13
Frederic 12
Fredk. 12
Joshua 12
Robt. 12
Edmund 11
Mark 11
Mathew 11
Philip 11
Sydney 11

FAQ

Mann surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mann surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15,786 people were recorded with the Mann surname. That placed it at #253 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mann surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 23,756 in 2016. That gives Mann a modern rank of #247.

What does the Mann surname mean?

A surname of Germanic origin, meaning a person or a brave or strong man.

What does the Mann map show?

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