Recorded as Manning, Mannings, Munning, Munnings, and possibly others, this is an English surname. It is however ultimately of pre 7th century Norse Viking origins, and according to the famous Victorian etymologist Canon Charles Bardsley writing in the year 1880, derives from the ancient word 'maningi.' This was a word which translated as valiant or strong, and as such it was originally given as a baptismal name to a male child. The personal name is preserved in such towns as Manningford or Manningtree. We have no reason to doubt this research, and it would seem to be confirmed by one of the earliest recordings of Henry Maninge of Cambridgeshire, in the Hundred Rolls of land owners of that county in 1273. Other early examples of the surname recordings taken from surviving church registers of the diocese of Greater London include the christening of Johan, the daughter of Launcelot Manning, on January 14th 1564, at St. Mary Magdalene, the marriage of Alice Munning and Nicholas Markham at St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, on February 4th 1584, and that of John Munnings who married Jane Turner at St Margaret Pattens on February 18th 1640. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ainulf Manning. This was dated 1190, in the Pipe Rolls of Kent, during the reign of King Richard 1st of england, and known as "Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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