Surname Meanley - Meaning and Origin

Meanley: What does the surname Meanley mean?

The last name Meanley is of English origin and is derived from the old Norman French language. It likely derived from the French geographical term ‘mesnil’ which meant a manor or estate. In Old English, it was also documented as Mesnil, Menel and Manel. The name is a habitational name derived from places named with the word 'Meanley'.

Those with the name Meanley are thought to have originally lived in one of the several places in England with this name such as Maunley, Mauley, Manley, Maenleah and Manley in Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire. The name Likely originated from the Anglo-Saxon language and was originally spelled as Maunly and then Maneleia.

Typically, the name carried with it an association with someone who was a landowner or had a connection with an estate. The name has ancient origins and can be found on records from the 13th century. This name is quite uncommon and is found mainly within England. However, those with the name may also be found in parts of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States, descended from those who emigrated centuries ago.

Today, the name is used as either a first name or a surname, often spelled the same. The Meaningley name has been passed down through generations and despite its roots in ancient history, its long lasting popularity continues even to this day.

Meanley: Where does the name Meanley come from?

The last name Meanley is believed to have originated in England. Today, it is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. According to census data, the last name Meanley is found mainly in South West England, in cities such as Bristol, Bath and Exeter. It is also found in the Midlands in cities such as Birmingham and Coventry, and in locations such as Oxford and Cambridge.

Outside of the United Kingdom, the last name Meanley is quite uncommon. There are a few isolated cases scattered around the United States, Canada, and Australia, but the last name is not as widely spread as it is in the UK. In the United States, the last name Meanley is more commonly found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey.

Various spellings of the last name have become popular throughout the years. Meanley, Meany, Manny, Manley, Manleye, Manly, and Meany are all derivatives of the same surname. The last name Meanley is thought to be a variation of the Old English name Mea, which means “a milt worker” or “one who works on a farm.” It is believed that the Meanley surname came into being around the late 14th century, when surnames were first adopted by English people.

Overall, the Meanley surname is still relatively rare, but it remains well established in certain cities in the United Kingdom. It is thought that the last name originally came from England, but it is has spread to other parts of the world over the centuries.

Variations of the surname Meanley

Meanley is an English surname derived from the Old English pre 7th century word meni meaning "strong". It is an alternate spelling of the more common Meaney, Mainey, Mainey, Maney, Manley, Menley, and Miney.

Variant spellings of Meanley include Manley, Manly, Manlye, Meinly, Minely, Manleye, Manhay, Meenly, Meneley, Mineley, Manhay, and Menly. Variants of the surname can also be found with the prefixes Mc and Mac, as in McMeanley.

The surname Meanley likely appeared first in the northern parts of England. Meanleys were first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very early times. In Wiltshire records, William Meinly was recorded in 1197, and Roger de Maneleia was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk in 1220.

The Meanleys can be traced back to ancient clan histories established in the British Isles. The earliest recorded ancestor of the Meanley family was a man named Aelfric, who was born around 950 AD. He was related to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia and is thought to have been a descendant of the Viking invaders who settled in England.

The name Meanley has been associated with people from many different countries and cultures over the years, including England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Scandinavia, and the Eastern European countries of Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. As with many surnames during the Middle Ages, the spelling of the Meanley surname varied from place to place, making research into a specific family's history more difficult. However, today most of the spellings are interchangeable and researchers can often find a variety of spellings to connect with the same people.

Famous people with the name Meanley

• Jackson Meanley, a professional basketball player
• Tim Meanley, a professional mixed martial art fighter
• Rufus Meanley, an actor
• John Meanley, a music producer
• Robert Meanley, a historian
• Judy Meanley, a philanthropist
• Ryan Meanley, a business tycoon
• Richard Meanley, aBritish politician
• Tom Meanley, a journalist
• Paul Meanley, an artist
• Maurice Meanley, a retired tennis player
• Ronald Meanley, a computer programmer
• Jamal Meanley, a chef
• Harry Meanley, a meteorologist
• Amanda Meanley, a fashion designer
• Phil Meanley, a professional golfer
• William Meanley, an explorer
• David Meanley, a scientist
• Jeff Meanley, a Hollywood actor
• Steve Meanley, a musician

Other surnames

Meanly