This surname is derived from a geographical locality. An inhabitant of Le Mans, the capital of Maine, a native of Maine—so says Lower. I suggested in English Surnames that it might be an abbreviation of Manciple, which see. Probably Lower is right.

Thomas le Mansell, Buckinghamshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Sampson le Maunse), Bedfordshire, ibid.

John le Maunsel, 1313. Writs of Parliament.

Robert le Mansel. Placitorum in domo capitulari Westmonasteriensi.

Johannes Mauncell, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Alicia Maunsell, 1379: ibid.

(a) Bapt. 'the son of Mansel,' possibly a form of Marcel.

Frater Maunsel, Norfolk, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Maunsel (without surname), Huntingdonshire, ibid.

Thomas Maunsel, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Hence the diminutive Mancel-ot or Maunsel-ot.

Henricus Maunselot, rector of Gateshead, 1322: Brand's History Newcastle.

Hugh Mancelot, Lincolnshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

OF. Mancel (le manceau, inhabitant of Maine or le Mans). This name first appears in connection with the Abbey of Kelso and shortly afterwards with the Abbey of Arbroath. About 1180 Andrew Maunsel or Mansel witnessed a charter of the church of Pencathlan to Kelso (Kelso, 369). Willelmus Manselmus witnessed William de Moreuille's charter of Gillemoristun to Edulfus filius Uctredi before 1196 (REG., p. 40). Between 1198 and 1222 we find Andrew Maunsel witnessing charters by William de Veteri Ponte and Bernard de Haudene in favor of Kelso Abbey and also witnessing the charter of the church of Brennath (Birnie in Moray) to the same abbey (Kelso, 139,213, 371). About 1200 he granted liberty to the Abbey of Kelso to build a weir upon part of his ground "in le halech ex orientali parte ville de Roxbergh" (ibid., 507). (This is the dam-head or cauld popularly believed to have been constructed by Michael Scot, through the agency of an infernal spirit. See Scott, Lay of the last minstrel, II, 13). Andrew Maunsel was vicar of St. James's Church at Roxburgh in 1226 (Morton, p. 110). Robert Mansel or Maunsel between 1200-11 witnessed charters by Philip de Malevill, Vmfridus de Berkeley, Douenald Abbe de Brechin and others in favor of the Abbey of Arbroath (RAA., I, 74, 74 bis, 89, 93, 94). Agnes called Maunsell held a burgage in Roxburgh in 1338 (Dryburgh, 315.)

(Anglo-French-Lat) One Belonging to a Manse; a Farmer [Anglo-French ma(u)nsel; French manse, land sufficient to support a family; Low Latin mansa, a farm; Latin mansus, pp. of manere, to reside + the French suff. -el, Latin -ell-us] Sampson le Maunsel.—Hundred Rolls Robert le Mansel.—Plac. Dom. Cap. Westm.

In its original (French) home this surname is now found as Manseau, Manceau, Mancel, &c.

On donnait, au moyen âge, le nom de Mansel à l’individu qui cultivait une manse ou qui était préposé à la perception de ses revenus.—Moisy, Noms de Fam. Norm., p. 263.

1. The same as Maunsell. Mancel is without prefix in H.R. 2. Two parishes in Herefordshire bear this name.

(English), Native of Maine.

A location name in Herefordshire Or from the French, Mancel; a personal name Robert Le Mansel held lands in Leicestershire, temp. King John.

Mansell: is from Le Mans. Wace tells us that many of these went to help in the invasion of England. The existing family, however, derives from John Mansell, in the reign of King Henry III. He was one of the grossest pluralists known in England, for he held 700 livings at one and the same time. He was also Provost of Beverley, Treasurer of York, Chief Justice of England, one of the Privy Council, Chaplain to the King, and his Ambassador to Spain. He had a wife, an heiress (Joan de Beauchamp, daughter of Simon, Baron of Bedford), and left a son (Sir Thomas Mansell), who was a banneret. He feasted at his house at Tothill two Kings and their Queens, with their dependents, and 700 messes of meat scarce served for the first dinner. A Sir Thomas Mansell, a lineal descendant, was created Lord Mansell by Queen Anne in 1711.

Mansell is the name of two Herefordshire parishes. Edmund Mansell was a member of the Common Council of Shrewsbury in the reign of Charles II. (O.), and the name is still common in the town. Mansel or Maunsel was a much more common surname in the 13th century than it is at present. It was then established in Shropshire, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Wilts, Bucks, Hunts, Cambridgeshire, etc. (H. R.).