Recorded in the spellings of Mant, Mante, Mantha, Manthe, Mantel, Manteler, Manthen, Mantau, and many others, in the spellings above this is a Germanic surname, but of pre 7th century Olde French origins. In similar spellings such as Mantell or Manteau it is recorded in France and England, and however spelt all have the same original meaning. They derive from the word "mantel", itself a development of the Ancient Roman "mantellus", and meaning a cloak or over-garment. This surname describes either a maker of such clothes, or possibly as a nickname, somebody who wore particularly striking coats, an actor, or even a noble. Although names associated with jobs were very early in creation, perhaps even as far back as the 11th century, they were amongst the last to become truly hereditary. The reason for this discrepancy is that the name continued as long as the son or sons continued in the father's trade, but if this changed so did the son's name! Nethertheless this surname is one of the first to be recorded anywhere, and early examples taken from the authentic rolls and chgaarters of the period include Heinrich Mantel, in the charters of the town of Wimfen in the year 1352, Gelasius Manthe, christened at Bislich, Rheinland, on March 11th 1677, and Gottfried Manthe, who married Hanna Hoffman, at Konigsberg , on January 15th 1804.

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