(i) This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the man' i.e. the servant, in early use.

Henry le Man, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Bartholomew le Man, Somerset, ibid.

Michael le Man, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Henry le Man, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Richard le Man. Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum in Turri Londinesi.

(a) Local, 'from Maine,' the French province. A common Yorkshire surname.

Patricius de Man, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes de Man, 1397: ibid.

Cecilia Manne, 1379: ibid.

Johannes de Manne, 1379: ibid.

For many other and conclusive instances, v. Mayne (2).

1586. Buried — Phillippe Colston, servant of Richard Man: St. Thomas the Apostle (London).

1720. Baptised — Anne, d. Daniel Mann: St. James, Clerkenwell.

Another form of Main, shortened from Magnus, q. v. John Man was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1399 (NSCM., I, p. 1). Christina Man in Aberdeen was described in 1411 as "communis receptor meretricium et furium" (CRA., p. 4). Nicolaus Man was juror on inquest for ascertaining the former tenure of the lands of Kilrawakys et Geddes in 1431 (Rose, p. 129). Andrew Man, resident in Brechin, 1472 (REB., II, 276), William Man admitted burgess of Dundee, 1553 (Wedd., p. 37), and Andro Man was executed in Aberdeen, 1597, for witchcraft (SCM., I, p. 117). Finla Man appears in Dingwall, 1606; Alexander Man, attorney in Ollnafirth, 1625 (OSS., I, 111), William Man in Rames was fined in 1641 for resetting outlawed Macgregors (RPC. ), and John Mann was bailie of New Galloway before 1790 (Kirkcudbright).

(English) Vassal, Servant; Hero [Old English mann, man, vassal, hero] This name is found in the Liter Vitae (9th cent. ff.), and in early times was doubtless often used as an heroic appellation: later the notion of vassalage or service was more fully developed.

Previously to paying the wergild, the king’s ‘mund’ (a fine to the king for breach of his protection) was to be levied; after which, within twenty-one days, the ‘healsfang’ (apprehensio colli, collistrigium) was to be discharged; and after that, with in a twenty-one days, the ‘manbót,’ or indemnity to the lord of the slain for the loss of his man.—Lappenberg-Thorpe, Anglo-SaxonKings, ii. 413.

Like master, like man.—Old Proverb.

The vassal or tenant, kneeling, ungirt, uncovered, and holding up his hands between those of his lord, professed that he did become his man from that day forth, of life, limb, and earthly honour.— Blackstone; Webster.

Henry le Man.—Hundred Rolls (Celtic) belonging to (the Isle of) Man [? Cymric mân, place, or district]

(German, English) The vassal or servant; one who came from the Isle of Man, a Manxman.

This is a proper name of vast antiquity-the Mannus of the Teutonic mythology. Tacitus says of the Germans (cap. ii.): They celebrate in their ancient hymns, Tuisco, the earth-born, and his son Mannus, the originators and founders of their race: "Celebrant carminibus antiquis Tuistonem, terra editum, et filium Mannum, originem gentis conditoresque." Hence, doubtless, our word man, homo. Once adopted as a personal name, it would naturally become a surname. In some cases, however, the name is derived from Le Man, a native of the province of Maine, analogous to Le Breton, Le Norman, &c. Possibly also from the island in the Irish sea. See Man.

(German.) Gentleman or master, the same as Herr. Man, in the Welsh, signifies freckled or spotted; also, a spot, a place.

From the Old Norse, Manni; from the Frisian, Manne, Manno; from the German, Mann; in the Domesday Book, Man, Manna, Manne, Manus; from the Danish, Mann; from the Dutch, Mahn, Man; a personal name.

Mann was an old and numerous Widecombe name in the 16th and 17th centuries, and it still has its principal home in the county in that neighbourhood (Dy.).

The Manns have found a home in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire for at least six centuries, Man being the early form of the name (H. R.). There was a family of Mann in Norwich at the beginning of last century, and the name is still in the city.

Mann, though well represented in this county, has its ancient and present home in the eastern counties.