Find out how popular the last name Mankey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Mankey.

Mankey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Mankey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mankey in America

Mankey is the 47614th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mankey surname appeared 445 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Mankey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mankey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Mankey

The surname Mankey is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the village of Mankey in Lancashire, England. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Old English words "mann" meaning "man" and "cæg" meaning "key," suggesting a possible connection to a gatekeeper or someone responsible for keys.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mankey can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1198, where it appears as "Manekey." This indicates that the name was already established in the region by the late 12th century. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a William de Manekey, further solidifying the surname's presence in medieval England.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Manckey" and "Manckye," reflecting the phonetic variations common during that era. One notable individual bearing this surname was John Mankey, a merchant from Bristol, who was recorded in the city's guild rolls in 1379.

During the 16th century, the surname Mankey gained prominence in Lancashire, with several references to individuals bearing this name in local records. One such example is Robert Mankey, a landowner from Preston, who was mentioned in a charter dated 1541.

The 17th century saw the emergence of a notable figure named William Mankey (1617-1687), a clergyman and author from Cheshire. He published several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures" and "A Treatise on Repentance."

In the 18th century, the surname Mankey continued to be prevalent in the northern counties of England. John Mankey (1730-1809), a wealthy merchant from Liverpool, was a prominent figure during this time. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and the establishment of several charitable institutions in the city.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Mankey gained international recognition with the accomplishments of James Mankey (1828-1892), a Scottish-born engineer and inventor who played a significant role in the development of early telegraph systems. His innovations contributed greatly to the advancement of communication technology during the industrial revolution.

While the surname Mankey may have evolved over the centuries, its origins remain rooted in the historic village of Mankey in Lancashire, England. The name's journey through time reflects the rich tapestry of English history and the diverse individuals who have carried this distinctive surname throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mankey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Mankey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Mankey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Mankey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Mankey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Mankey, please contact us.

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