NameCensus.

UK surname

Manser

A surname derived from the German word "Mannser," meaning a man from Manns.

In the 1881 census there were 681 people recorded with the Manser surname, ranking it #5,291 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,283, ranked #4,670, up from #5,291 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Manser is 1,391 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.4%.

1881 census count

681

Ranked #5,291

Modern count

1,283

2016, ranked #4,670

Peak year

1998

1,391 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Manser had 681 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,291 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,283 in 2016, ranked #4,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,203 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Manser surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Manser surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Manser 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 490 #5,099
1861 historical 324 #7,860
1881 historical 681 #5,291
1891 historical 784 #5,119
1901 historical 944 #4,958
1911 historical 1,203 #3,909
1997 modern 1,353 #4,251
1998 modern 1,391 #4,298
1999 modern 1,386 #4,343
2000 modern 1,361 #4,402
2001 modern 1,324 #4,420
2002 modern 1,347 #4,443
2003 modern 1,299 #4,490
2004 modern 1,300 #4,483
2005 modern 1,236 #4,641
2006 modern 1,201 #4,768
2007 modern 1,206 #4,795
2008 modern 1,219 #4,785
2009 modern 1,263 #4,737
2010 modern 1,308 #4,680
2011 modern 1,287 #4,693
2012 modern 1,256 #4,716
2013 modern 1,334 #4,549
2014 modern 1,317 #4,619
2015 modern 1,287 #4,670
2016 modern 1,283 #4,670

Geography

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Where Mansers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Tunbridge, Bidborough and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Brighton and Hove, Maidstone and East Hertfordshire. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tonbridge and Malling 002 Tonbridge and Malling
2 Tunbridge Wells 001 Tunbridge Wells
3 Brighton and Hove 017 Brighton and Hove
4 Maidstone 013 Maidstone
5 East Hertfordshire 012 East Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Manser

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Manser

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Manser, 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 Manser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Manser 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Manser is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Manser is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Manser 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 Manser 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 Manser, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Manser

The surname Manser originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "mannsere," which referred to a man who performed religious duties or served in a monastery. The name may have evolved from the words "mann" (man) and "sere" (servant).

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England compiled by William the Conqueror, there is an entry for a person named Manser living in Gloucestershire. This is one of the earliest known written records of the name.

In the 13th century, the surname Manser appeared in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed landowners in counties across England. The name was often spelled in different ways, including Maunser, Mancer, and Mauncer.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Manser was William Manser, who lived in Somerset, England, in the late 13th century. He was a landowner and is mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

In the 14th century, the name Manser was found in several places across England, including the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Oxfordshire. Some notable individuals from this period include John Manser, a merchant from Bristol who lived around 1350, and Thomas Manser, a landowner in Oxfordshire mentioned in the Court Rolls of 1379.

During the 15th century, the surname Manser continued to be present in various parts of England. One individual of note was Robert Manser, a prominent lawyer and member of the Parliament of England, who lived from around 1420 to 1490.

In the 16th century, the name Manser was found in several towns and villages across England, such as Manser Green in Hertfordshire and Manser's Hill in Somerset. A notable individual from this period was William Manser, a wealthy merchant from London who lived from 1530 to 1598.

Throughout its history, the surname Manser has been associated with various professions, including religious servants, landowners, merchants, lawyers, and others. While the name originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Manser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Manser 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. Kent leads with 214 Mansers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.46x.

County Total Index
Kent 214 9.46x
Sussex 154 13.77x
Middlesex 106 1.60x
Surrey 100 3.09x
Norfolk 21 2.06x
Hampshire 12 0.88x
Suffolk 12 1.49x
Hertfordshire 11 2.41x
Nottinghamshire 11 1.23x
Cambridgeshire 7 1.67x
Wiltshire 7 1.19x
Yorkshire 6 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 5 3.80x
Durham 4 0.20x
Devon 2 0.14x
Dorset 2 0.46x
Essex 2 0.15x
Berkshire 1 0.20x
Northamptonshire 1 0.16x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.47x
Somerset 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonbridge in Kent leads with 39 Mansers recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.78x.

Place Total Index
Tonbridge 39 47.78x
Eastbourne 31 60.24x
St Marylebone London 25 7.06x
Brighton 23 10.19x
Croydon 21 11.71x
Hadlow 20 356.51x
Deptford St Paul 19 10.88x
Islington London 17 2.64x
Southwark St Saviour 17 49.87x
Lambeth 15 2.59x
Northiam 14 510.95x
Dover St Mary Virgin 12 54.79x
Oare 12 1043.48x
Brenchley 11 135.80x
Hastings St Leonards 11 66.91x
Hellingly 10 267.38x
Willingdon 10 352.11x
Hastings St Mary In The 9 37.72x
Nottingham St Mary 9 3.89x
Oxted 8 205.66x
Tottenham 8 7.57x
Yalding 8 139.86x
Ashford 7 31.76x
Chelsea London 7 3.50x
Liddiard Tregooze 7 466.67x
Camberwell 6 1.42x
Clerkenwell London 6 3.83x
Epsom 6 38.10x
Hammersmith London 6 3.67x
Kensington London 6 1.63x
Lower Halstow 6 365.85x
Shoreditch London 6 2.09x
South Lynn 6 52.13x
Southampton St Mary 6 7.02x
Willesden 6 9.60x
Wood Ditton 6 170.94x
Aslacton 5 735.29x
Broxbourne 5 55.19x
Dover St James 5 50.40x
Godmanchester 5 100.40x
Hastings St Mary 5 17.97x
Lewisham 5 4.14x
Rotherfield 5 50.76x
Wenhaston 5 251.26x
Brenenden 4 137.46x
Burham 4 128.21x
Catherington 4 133.33x
Frant 4 50.51x
Hackney London 4 1.08x
Hertford St John 4 58.74x
Little Lumley 4 344.83x
Lowestoft 4 10.48x
Mickleham 4 219.78x
Nettlestead 4 296.30x
Newhaven 4 44.05x
Ryarsh 4 320.00x
Rye 4 37.63x
Stoke 4 26.23x
Upchurch 4 156.86x
Walmer 4 40.65x
Ackworth 3 59.41x
Beckenham 3 10.14x
Bermondsey 3 1.52x
Caterham 3 20.99x
Ealing 3 5.06x
Folkestone 3 6.83x
Great Yarmouth 3 3.55x
Greenwich 3 2.84x
Hastings Holy Trinity 3 36.41x
Mayfield 3 45.39x
Mile End Old Town 3 2.87x
North Cray 3 208.33x
Norwich All Sts 3 348.84x
Ore 3 36.06x
Patcham 3 150.00x
Poplar London 3 2.40x
Reigate Foreign 3 8.57x
Wateringbury 3 101.35x
Eythorne 2 188.68x
Petersfield 2 53.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 44
George 39
John 28
James 22
Thomas 19
Charles 18
Henry 18
Robert 12
Edward 11
Frederick 9
Richard 9
Alfred 8
Albert 7
Joseph 7
Edwin 5
Harry 4
Stephen 4
Arthur 3
David 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Alexander 2
Ephriam 2
Frank 2
Horace 2
Marshall 2
Martin 2
C. 1
Edmund 1
F. 1
Frances 1
Geo. 1
Geo.W. 1
Harold 1
Hedley 1
Henery 1
Hy.Wm. 1
Jesse 1
Jn.Thos. 1
Jno.Thos. 1
Jno.Wm. 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Rueben 1
Septimus 1
Shon 1
Sydney 1
Wyndham 1

FAQ

Manser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Manser surname in 1881?

In 1881, 681 people were recorded with the Manser surname. That placed it at #5,291 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Manser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,283 in 2016. That gives Manser a modern rank of #4,670.

What does the Manser surname mean?

A surname derived from the German word "Mannser," meaning a man from Manns.

What does the Manser map show?

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