Manley Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Manley last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Manley last name
Meaning of the Manley last name: shared clearing. Manley is an English surname from Manley in Cheshire or Manley in Devon, from Old English words for a "shared clearing". The last name later also passed for a nickname, as if "manly". It is found across England and in Ireland. Curiously, the place name has nothing to do with men; it meant land held in common.
Arms associated with the Manley name
Coats of arms associated with the Manley surname follow English heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full Manley family history
This is only a glimpse of the Manley story. The full Manley history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Manley coat of arms. Get the full Manley report.
Manley name FAQ
What does the Manley name mean?
Shared clearing. Common variants include Manly, Mandley.
Where does the Manley surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in Ireland, the United States and Australia.
Is there a Manley coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Manley coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).