MANGER
Origin of the surname Manger can be traced to Germanic roots. The name derives from Middle High German manger, meaning “manager” or “steward”, and is an occupational surname traditionally bestowed upon individuals who performed managerial or administrative duties in a household or estate.
During the medieval period in England, the surname also appeared as Monger and was recorded among Englishholders as a term describing a man who worked in a stable or in a manger, or who acted as a trader or merchant. The later occupational form costermonger specifically denoted a seller of fruit and vegetables.
In England the earliest surviving record is that of William Manger, a landowner listed in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdon in 1255. Subsequent medieval entries include Richard le Manger in the 1275 Worcester Subsidy Tax registers and Robert Monger noted in the 1316 Wakefield Friary Rolls, illustrating the surname’s presence across several counties.
The name has also been found in German-speaking Europe, where it is common in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Variants such as Menghar, Menger, Mannger and Mangher are fairly widespread, especially in the canton of Zürich. In Switzerland, the surname tends to be concentrated in specific regions, while in Germany it remains common in Bavarian and other central areas.
In the United States and Canada, the surname appears among descendants of German and French emigrants. In the U.S., Manger ranks around, but above the six thousandth most common surname among people of European descent, and in Canada it is close to the four thousandth position. The American version is often anglicised as Mangrum, though the original form persists in many communities.
Alternative derivations cite the Old High German manegar, meaning “bailiff” or “steward”, or menigar, meaning “several men”. Some scholars posit a link to place names such as Langevander or Manngere in Germany, but no definitive evidence ties the surname to a single geographic locus. The name may also incorporate a linguistic element from Latin mangum, suggesting a connection to table‑making or a role in provisioning food.
Overall, the surname Manger exemplifies an occupational origin that has persisted over the centuries. Its distribution across the British Isles, Continental Europe, and the Americas reflects migration patterns and the continuity of inherited family names. The variety of documented spellings and the presence of the name in historical records underscore its durability as a hereditary surname.
Typical given names associated with the Manger surname
Male
- Alan
- Christopher
- David
- Gareth
- James
- John
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Anita
- Anne
- Claire
- Emma
- Gladys
- Glynis
- Hayley
- Jennifer
- Karen
- Patricia
- Pauline
- Rajinder
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Tia
Similar and related surnames
- Magner
- Mahanger
- Maingard
- Mainger
- Manager
- Mancer
- Maner
- Mang
- Manga
- Mangar
- Mangara
- Mangard
- Mangaroo
- Mangaru
- Mange
- Mangel
- Mangera
- Mangere
- Mangers
- Manges
- Mangher
- Mangieri
- Mangle
- Mangler
- Mangor
- Mangoro
- Mangra
- Mangral
- Mangram
- Mangru
- Manker
- Manser
- Manzer
- Menager
- Mengar
- Menger
- Mengers
- Minger
- Monger
- Mounger
- Munger
- Myanger
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Manger in...
Braille
⠍⠁⠝⠛⠑⠗
Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 426 people named Manger in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around seven in a million people in Britain are named Manger.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Manger
- James Manger - Cricketer
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.