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Manson surname in South Africa

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Profiles

  • Magnus Manson (1853 - 1922)
    Sailor by trade Manson - Gregan Marriage Record - Kimberley, 16.12.1895 Death Certificate , which states that he died from injuries received "having accidentally fallen down a ship's hatch".NAAIRS Refe...
  • Edward Adam Manson (1879 - 1965)

History of Manson in Scotland

Summary

Manson is a surname of Scottish origin.[1] It is an Anglicised version of the Scandinavian name Magnusson, meaning son of Magnus, and a Sept of Clan Gunn. It is particularly common in the far northeast of Scotland in the county of Caithness and in Orkney and Shetland. It is also relatively common in southwest Scotland, in the country of Ayrshire.

Read more: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manson]

Recorded as Manson, Mainson, Mansioun and the rare Monson, this is Scottish surname. It derives from the pre 7th century Norse-Viking personal name Magnusson, meaning the son of Magnus, a popular name amongst the Norse, and one which used by several early kings of the Hebrides and the Isle of Man. The first name holder was probably a chieftain in the Hebrides in the year 972, but as a surname it did not become recorded until the 15th century, when Angus Mangson appears in the in the court registers of Kirkwall in 1446. Joseph Manson was recorded as being the official carpenter to Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1568, whilst in the same year Niells Monson was given as being a "native of the Shetlands". It is said that the nameholders were a branch of the Clan Gunn. What is certainly true is that in what is known as Elizabethan times, they spread rapidly from Caithness through Sutherland, to Ross. This was in the years upto the joining of the kingdoms of England and Scotland by the acccesion of James 1st of England and V1 of Scotland in 1603.

Read more: [https://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Manson#ixzz7zCNGXtYa]

Tartans of the Mansons

The following modern tartans are widely accepted as our own, on the basis that they are of clan Gunn or sept Manson.

static.clan.com/media/swfabrics/fabrics/1729-gunn-default/modern/1570/154/small-clan.png?cache=20230309120845Clan Gunn
static.clan.com/media/swfabrics/fabrics/3042-manson-default/modern/6880/123/small-clan.png?cache=20221125131536 Sept Manson


History of Manson in South Africa

Manson progenitors immigration to South Africa

Cape

  • Manson, William (1828 - abt. 1880) from Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, Scotland came to the Cape Colony on 15 May 1858 with his wife and children aboard the Gipsy Bride. His profession was listed as "Ploughman". He was married to Gass, Agnes. The couple had approximately 3 children in Scotland before having another 4 in the Cape.
  • Manson, Magnus (1853 - 1922) from Hughsbrake, Hillock, Dunrossness, Shetland, Scotland was married to Gregan, Ellen Mary Manson Stevens (m. 1895) in Kimberley, Cape Province. The couple had three children, all born in South Africa. It's important to note that he was previously married to Nelson, Mary Anne (m. 1877) in Darlington, Durham, England where they had five children. In South Africa, his profession is listed as a sailor/sea man. He died in Maitland after being in hospital for injuries sustained by having accidentally fallen down a ship's hatch. See Additonal Tree information here
  • Manson, Andrewina Alexina (m. Ovenstone) (1863 - 1943) from Caitness, Scotland. She was married to Ovenstone, John. She resided in Cape Town.
  • Manson, John Erik (1893 - 1959) from Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland married to his wife, Jamieson, Jane Harriet (m. 1918) had three children before 1925 in the U.K (Scotland & England) before settling in South Africa. Him and his family arrived on the shores of South Africa between 1925 - 1929. In his life he was a lieutenant, South African Navy.

Natal

  • Manson, William Alexander (1861 - 1943) from Wick, Caithness, Scotland. Arrived in South Africa before 1897 and was married to Carmont, Jane in Durban. In his life he was a farmer and a retired manager for the telephone department, municipal. The married couple had 4 children together. Family Search Link
  • Manson, Edward Adam (1879 - 1965) from Midmar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, departed from England on 1 Aug 1903 aboard the Galeka and arrived in Durban, South Africa later that month. His occupation was listed as a carpenter. He previous came to South Africa during the Anglo Boer war, but was discharged by the time of his immigration. He was married to Cruickshank, Matilda and the couple had 8 children that were all born in Natal, South Africa.

Orange Free State

  • Manson, Alexander Roberston (1872 - 1941) from Long Hope, Orkney Islands, Scotland married to Stidworthy, Ada Laura. In his life, he was a station master. Him and his wife had 5 children.

Transvaal

  • Manson, David Colder (1810 - 1872); origins unknown but he died in Utrecht, Z.A.R. His next of kin is listed as Manson, Alexander Frederick.
  • Manson, John Alexander (1881 - 1953); Born in New South Wales, Australia to David Wares Manson and Mary Anne Prior. He immigrated to South Africa before 1910, as his marriage to Randall, Irene Thornton alludes to this. In his life, he was a farmer based in near Warmbaths, Transvaal.
  • Manson, Henry John (1875 - 1941); Born in Yorkshire, England to Nedby Mayhew Manson and Lavinia Elizabeth Mayhew. He immigrated to the Cape Colony where he married his wife, Amelia Harriet Hunter in 1904 in Rondebosch. He passed away in 1941 and was buried in Krugerdorp, Transvaal.

Notable people with the surname include

  • Professor Andrew Manson, Research professor in the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, North-West University, Mahikeng Campus. Published
  • Harley William Daniel Manson, born in Tanganyika and educated in England, Grahamstown and Johannesburg, H. W. D. ("Cake") Manson spent the maturest and best years of his short life in the Capital of Natal. He seemed to regard himself as a Natalian more than anything else, and when history has done its often belated justice, he will be regarded as onc of the glories of Natal, for he is notably one of the outstanding English language poets of the twentieth century in Natal. See Additonal information via Natalia.org.za: vol 01 article p23-25 C

Statistics of Manson in South Africa

As of 2023, there are currently 519 instances of the name in South Africa.

Read more: [https://forebears.io/surnames/manson]

Further readings of interest

Southern Africa

There are many instances of Manson in other nearby countries like modern day Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi etc.

An example of this would that of Ernest Andrew Manson, grandson of the previously mentioned William Manson, was born in the Cape around 1878. He was a member of the Southern Rhodesian Volunteers. He was also a prospector in Southern Rhodesia and was provided with a licence (no. 17158, issued on 11 Novemeber 1898 at Bulawayo for 10 claims). He was most likely the first of his family to immigrate to Rhodesia.

Another example would be that of John Hay Manson (1876 - 1898), from Midmar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and brother of the formerly mentioned Edward Adam Manson. John Hay was mots likely a farm labourer, but was working as a gardener at Aberlour House, Moray around 1895. He departed for South Africa (Natal) on 12th Decemeber 1896. He passed through Pietermaritzburg, as attested by a family photograph of him sent to relatives back in Scotland, before making his way towards Rhodesia. The register of prospecting licenses, 1890-1933 show that he had purchased/received a prospecting licence in his own name on 22nd November 1897. He sadly passed away near Victoria Falls on 5th July 1898. Although details regarding his death are speculative at this point, a researcher has indicated that he may have travelled with 5~6 other individuals, before being abandoned on the northern bank, on maramba river junction with the Zambezi just above Victoria Falls. The researcher has indicated that he may be one of the three individuals left behind and mentioned in the re-tellings of A.L. Lawley. These details have yet to be confirmed, but shows promise.

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