Manley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Manley

What does the name Manley mean?

Manley is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The Manley family lived in the places named Manley in Cheshire. The place-name was originally derived from the Old English word moene, which means common or shared, and leah, which means wood or clearing. 1

This surname is still found most frequently around the villages of Manley in Devon and Cheshire.

Early Origins of the Manley family

The surname Manley was first found in Cheshire at Manley, a village and civil parish in the union of Runcorn, Second division of the hundred of Eddisbury. 2 The township dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Menlie. 3

"The manor of Manley in Cheshire was possessed in the reign of Henry III. by a family who assumed the name of the township, and held it as mediate lords under the Dones of Crowton." 4

This "family was an old one. Burke refers its origin to a 'Conqueror's follower' who appears as 'Manlay' in 'Battle Abbey Roll' (Holinshed, Chronicles, 1807, ii. 5). From the twelfth to the sixteenth century they resided in Chester, but in 1520 moved to Denbigh." 5

Despite the aforementioned, we must look to Devon to find the first listing in early rolls. It is there that William de Manelegh listed in 1202. Over one hundred years later, in Yorkshire, we found Alexander and James Manly in the Assize Rolls of 1363. 6

Cheshire proved to be stronghold of the family for centuries as the Wills at Chester listed Nicholas Manley, of Poulton, 1595, Ann Manley, of Chester, widow, 1618; and Thomas Manley, of Manley, husbandman, 1665. 7

Early History of the Manley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Manley research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1157, 1520, 1621, 1622, 1626, 1628, 1629, 1640, 1646, 1655, 1659, 1667, 1672, 1688, 1699 and 1724 are included under the topic Early Manley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Manley Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Manley family name include Manley, Mandley, Mandly, Manly, Mannley and others.

Early Notables of the Manley family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

John Manley (c 1622-1699), an English politician, Post Master General, Member of Parliament for Denbigh Boroughs in 1659; and Mary de la Riviere Manley (c1672-1724), an English writer, editor of The E...
Sir Roger Manley (1626?-1688), was a cavalier, second son of Sir Richard Manley. Manley's father, comptroller of the household to Prince Henry, was knighted by James I in 1628. He is the Sir Richard M...

Manley Ranking

In the United States, the name Manley is the 1,154^th most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Manley family to Ireland

Some of the Manley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Manley migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Manley family to immigrate North America:

Manley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ralph Manley, who arrived in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1630 9
Roger Manley, who landed in Virginia in 1664 9

Manley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Manley, who arrived in Virginia in 1715 9

Manley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Manley, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1847 9
Jethro Manley, who arrived in Ohio in 1849 9
Ellen Manley, aged 40, who landed in New York in 1854 9
Patrick Manley, aged 13, who arrived in New York in 1854 9
Edward, James, John, Joseph, Michael, Patrick, Richard, Thomas, and William Manley all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Manley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Manley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Anthony Manley who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Ganges" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in 1847 10
Mrs. Ann Manley, aged 60 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ganges" departing 16th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 21st August 1847 but she died on board 11
Mr. John Manley, aged 26 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Henry Pottinger" departing 29th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 7th August 1847 but he died on board 11
Mrs. Kate Manley, aged 40 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Henry Pottinger" departing 29th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 7th August 1847 but she died on board 11
Mr. Michael Manley, aged 39 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Henry Pottinger" departing 29th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 7th August 1847 but he died on board 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Manley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Manley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Manley, a confectioner, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Elizabeth Manley, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Amphitrite" on August 21, 1833, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
Miss Jane Manley, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. Robert Manley, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canton" on 20th September 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
Miss Mary Ann Manley who was convicted in Exeter, Devon, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 4th September 1847, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Manley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Drinan Manley, aged 20, a farmer, who arrived in New Plymouth aboard the ship "Phoebe Dunbar" between 1841 and 1850

Manley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Manley, aged 20, a tailor, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Countess of Kintore" in 1875
Emma Manley, aged 28, a cook, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Ruapehu" in 1887

Contemporary Notables of the name Manley (post 1700) +

George Edmond Manley (b. 1965), American voice artist, novelist and screenplay writer
Effa Manley (1897-1981), American Negro League Baseball owner and first woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; wife of Abe Manley
Dexter "Dex" Manley, American commercial and video game voice actor who has worked on over 300 commercials and 25 video games
Dr. Audrey Forbes Manley (b. 1934), American pediatrician, and public health administrator, acting Surgeon General of the United States from 1995 to 1997
Alvin Vincent Manley (b. 1971), American boxer, two-time National Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight Champion (1992, 1996)
Abraham L. "Abe" Manley (1885-1952), American sports executive, co-owner of the Newark Eagles, Brooklyn Eagles and Newark Dodgers
Dexter Keith Manley (b. 1959), American former NFL football defensive end who played from 1981 to 1994, inducted into the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame
Brigadier-General Frederick Willis Manley (1881-1958), American Commanding Officer Camp Rucker, Alabama (1942-1943) 16
John H. Manley (1907-1999), American nuclear physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project
Arlanders M. Manley Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 1996 17
... (Another 35 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Manley family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mr. David Victor Manley (1942-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Cambridge, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 18

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Jeremiah Manley, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 19
Mr. Gilbert Manley, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 19

HMS Repulse

Mr. Arthur Manley, British Chief Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 20

The Manley Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Manus haec inimica tyrannis
Motto Translation: This hand is hostile to tyrants.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 41)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 85)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Amphitrite voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1833 with 99 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/amphitrite/1833
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canton
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 11) Frederick Manley. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Manley/Frederick_Willis/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html