UK surname
A German surname derived from the Latin "mansus" meaning a household or estate.
In the 1881 census there were 84 people recorded with the Mans surname, ranking it #21,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #21,690 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mans is 255 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.9%.
1881 census count
84
Ranked #21,690
Modern count
99
2016, ranked #31,358
Peak year
1861
255 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mans surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mans 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 | 143 | #13,343 |
| 1861 | historical | 255 | #9,699 |
| 1881 | historical | 84 | #21,690 |
| 1891 | historical | 93 | #24,965 |
| 1901 | historical | 46 | #29,047 |
| 1911 | historical | 65 | #26,343 |
| 1997 | modern | 55 | #32,114 |
| 1998 | modern | 61 | #31,841 |
| 1999 | modern | 64 | #31,692 |
| 2000 | modern | 70 | #31,180 |
| 2001 | modern | 66 | #31,394 |
| 2002 | modern | 72 | #31,269 |
| 2003 | modern | 76 | #30,883 |
| 2004 | modern | 86 | #30,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 75 | #31,400 |
| 2006 | modern | 79 | #31,263 |
| 2007 | modern | 83 | #31,183 |
| 2008 | modern | 85 | #31,247 |
| 2009 | modern | 84 | #31,842 |
| 2010 | modern | 85 | #32,185 |
| 2011 | modern | 82 | #32,449 |
| 2012 | modern | 92 | #31,528 |
| 2013 | modern | 93 | #31,785 |
| 2014 | modern | 93 | #32,025 |
| 2015 | modern | 95 | #31,749 |
| 2016 | modern | 99 | #31,358 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and Lambeth. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mans 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 Mans, 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 Mans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mans 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, Mans 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 Mans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mans, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MANS has its origins in the Low Countries, specifically in the Netherlands and Belgium, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch word "man," which means "man" or "husband," and was likely used as a descriptive name for men or as a reference to a male head of a household.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MANS can be found in the Oorkondenboek van Holland en Zeeland, a collection of historical documents from the 13th century. Here, a certain Jan MANS is mentioned in a document dated 1275, residing in the town of Leiden.
The name MANS also appears in various other historical records throughout the centuries. For instance, in the 16th century, a merchant named Pieter MANS is recorded as having traded goods between Amsterdam and Antwerp. Additionally, a farmer named Dirk MANS is mentioned in a land registry from the village of Groningen in the early 17th century.
During the Dutch Golden Age, the MANS surname gained prominence with the birth of Michiel MANS (1595-1662), a renowned painter from Utrecht known for his still-life and genre paintings. His works can be found in various museums across Europe, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Another notable figure with the MANS surname was Jan MANS (1647-1718), a Dutch mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and worked closely with the renowned scientist Christiaan Huygens.
In the 19th century, a politician named Willem MANS (1813-1890) gained recognition for his role in the Dutch liberal movement. He served as a member of the House of Representatives and played a crucial part in the revision of the Dutch constitution in 1848.
The MANS surname has also been linked to various place names throughout the Low Countries. For example, the village of Manshausen in the province of Overijssel is believed to have derived its name from a historical figure named MANS who resided there. Additionally, the town of Mansfeld in Germany shares a similar root, potentially originating from the same source.
While the surname MANS is most commonly associated with the Netherlands and Belgium, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval Low Countries, where it was initially used as a descriptive name or a reference to the head of a household.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mans 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. Cumberland leads with 12 Mans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.86x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 12 | 17.86x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.15x |
| Durham | 8 | 3.45x |
| Surrey | 7 | 1.84x |
| Worcestershire | 6 | 5.89x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.78x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 3.68x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 3.27x |
| Wiltshire | 4 | 5.80x |
| Devon | 3 | 1.85x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.52x |
| Dorset | 2 | 3.91x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.52x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.38x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 6.41x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 3.13x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.38x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.11x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.86x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.80x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aikton in Cumberland leads with 9 Mans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4285.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aikton | 9 | 4285.71x |
| Elvet | 7 | 416.67x |
| Lambeth | 7 | 10.29x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 5 | 34.70x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 5 | 38.28x |
| Pewsey | 4 | 784.31x |
| Richmond | 4 | 330.58x |
| Nuneaton | 3 | 131.58x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 7.20x |
| Stanwix | 3 | 555.56x |
| Tormoham | 3 | 43.67x |
| Worcester St Andrew | 3 | 882.35x |
| Brighton | 2 | 7.54x |
| Buckland Newton | 2 | 869.57x |
| St Anne Soho London | 2 | 44.84x |
| Stourbridge | 2 | 76.34x |
| Andover | 1 | 66.23x |
| Bedminster | 1 | 8.47x |
| Caton | 1 | 344.83x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 4.25x |
| Dodderhill | 1 | 232.56x |
| Forfar | 1 | 25.58x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 8.23x |
| Hornsea | 1 | 204.08x |
| Lee | 1 | 25.84x |
| Leominster | 1 | 75.76x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 11.67x |
| Stockton On Tees | 1 | 8.94x |
| Vaynor | 1 | 131.58x |
| Westgate | 1 | 13.91x |
| Willesden | 1 | 13.59x |
| York St Cuthbert | 1 | 140.85x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mans surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mans 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 Mans households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 14 |
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| Nil | 3 |
| Agent For Mineral Waters | 1 |
| Agri Laborer | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Apprentice To Tin Works | 1 |
| Bricklayer 9 Men | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Cheese Mongers Assistant | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Corn Chandlers Assistant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drapers Apprentice | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Governess | 1 |
| Grooms Wife | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housemaid (Domestic) | 1 |
| Ladies Maid | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Laundry Maid | 1 |
| Lighterman | 1 |
| Lodging Housekeeper | 1 |
| Marine Store Dealer | 1 |
| Marine Store Dealers Wife | 1 |
| Messman (Domestic Servant) (Soldr) | 1 |
| NK | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Potter (E W Manuf) | 1 |
| Railway Lab | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| School Teacher | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Semstress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Servant Dom | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailor Dau | 1 |
| Tailor Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 84 people were recorded with the Mans surname. That placed it at #21,690 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Mans a modern rank of #31,358.
A German surname derived from the Latin "mansus" meaning a household or estate.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mans 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.