Surname Manthey - Meaning and Origin

Explorations from My iGENEA DNA Test: Unearthing the Rich Heritage and History of the Manthey Surname

Through the iGENEA DNA test, I have delved into the origins and rich history of my surname, Manthey. The riveting journey stitched together my German roots, the significance of my surname, the cultural heritage that comes with it, and an understanding of my ancestors' migration patterns. This exploration around history, culture, and my family name Manthey has deepened my understanding of my identity.

Y. Manthey

Manthey: What does the surname Manthey mean?

The surname Manthey is derived from Middle German and Low German terms meaning “man-servant” or “servant”. It is likely that the surname was given to those German immigrants who served as domestic servants to a landed family. In other words, the family likely belonged to the lower class of the feudal hierarchy, possibly working as a farmhand or caretaker.

The Mantheys were among the earliest German settlers in the United States. They arrived in the colonies in the mid-1700s, primarily in Pennsylvania. The family’s primary livelihoods were industrial labour and farming. Most likely, they kept small plots of land and made their living as family farmers. This would have been a difficult life, characterized by hard physical labor and a meager income.

Today, the Manthey name has evolved into a symbol of German heritage, evoking images of strong family values, community spirit, determination, and hard work. These attributes have been passed down through generations, living on in the Manthey family. As a result, it is not uncommon to find family members who are active in their local communities, pursuing career paths in civil service, farming, teaching, or other areas.

Overall, the surname Manthey conjures up images of a proud family with a long history of hard work and determination. It is a name that is filled with admiration and respect, as well as one that has been instrumental in shaping what has become a thriving German-American culture.

Manthey: Where does the name Manthey come from?

The last name Manthey is most commonly found in Germany. It is one of the most common surnames in that country and has been found to have deep historic roots in Bavaria. The name is known to originate from a village named Manthei in the eastern state of Lausitz in Brandenburg, Germany. Approximately 6,500 people currently bear this name across Germany and other countries with German heritage - such as Austria, Switzerland, and the United States.

The German language is known for its intricate and complex structure, and the surname Manthey is no exception. It is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name Matthias, a variation of the Hebrew name Matityahu which means “gift of Yahweh”. The name has been recorded in documents stretching as far back as the 1700s and is believed to have been a mostly peasant name.

The name Manthey is also found in other countries beyond Germany such as France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and even Hungary. In the United States, the name has attracted the attention of American researchers. There are currently more than 200 listings in the US census for this last name, indicating that there are many people with German ancestry carrying on this name today.

Variations of the surname Manthey

The surname Manthey is of German origin, and is most commonly found in Austria and Germany. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Manthey, Manthei, Maenthe, Mantei, Maenthey, Manthe, Manthie, Manteigh, and Maanthie.

Manthey is derived from the German and Dutch element ‘mann’ which means ‘man’, and the element thei meaning ‘people’. It was most likely an occupational surname given to someone who was considered to be the head of the family or the head of the village.

Variants of the surname include Maenthe, which is a common spelling found in German records, and in some cases, the spelling Mente is also used. This variant is an Anglicized form of the original German spelling.

According to the House of Names, the Maenthies surname and its variations are descended from the 51st generation of a German Renaissance Royal Family. It is believed that the family moved out of Germany and settled in the Mojave Valley in Phoenix, Arizona.

Other surnames of the same origin include Mantei, which is derived from the German-American spelling of Manthey, and Manthie, which is derived from the English variant of the same name.

Manteigh is a Scottish variant of Manthey which is currently found in the Scottish Highlands. Maanthie is a variant of Manuel which is most common in the Netherlands, and is believed to have been phased out in recent times.

Overall, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Manthey are Maenthe, Mantei, Maenthey, Manthe, Manthie, Manteigh, Maanthie and Manteigh.

Famous people with the name Manthey

• Alison Manthey: American actress best known for roles in Glee, Mad Men, and The Mindy Project.
• Michael Manthey: German professional motocross racer.
• Gerald Manthey: Former mayor of Los Angeles and Hollywood-style political showman.
• Hermann Manthey-Zorn: German painter and engraver, well known for his landscape and animal paintings.
• Chris Manthey: American actor and producer best known for his work on Justified, Animal Kingdom, and Fargo.
• Frederick Manthey: American professor of painting and drawing at the University of Minnesota.
• Jerry G. Manthey: Canadian actor and stunt double for Bill Murray in the 2002 movie Lost In Translation.
• Jill C. Manthey: American historian who wrote several books on the history of the US military.
• Marty Manthey: Former American basketball star, who played professionally in Europe and then coached at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• August Manthey: German skydiver and parachuting pioneer, noted for practicing some of the earliest, long-distance parachute jumps.

Other surnames

ManthaiManthauManthayManthei