The family of Manning had their early origin in Germany, and in the 4th or 5th century went from Saxony, in the lower part of that country, to England, where at first the family consisted of three branches, one in County Kent, one in Sussex, and another in Norfolk.
In Kent we find Ranuloph deManning, of Manholm, Lord of Manholm, who married the aunt of King Harold. His son, Simon deManning, was Lord of Betiad at Downe, County Kent. He was the first English baron to go with KingRichard to the crusades in 1190. Simon de Manning is the ancestor of the Mannings of Downe and Cudham, who were knights marshall of the household of England's sovereigns for about 400 years.
The Mannings in Ireland arrived during the reign of Henry II, 1154 - 1189. Sir Henry Manning, knightmarshall to Henry VII, had a grandson, John Manning who had a grant of part of the possessions ofthe Earl of Desmond, in Ireland. In 1600 he joined the Earl of Essex in an expedition to the land of the Irish people.
Branches of the Manning family from England and Ireland emigrated to North America and settled in Nova Scotia, New England, New York, New Jersey,Virginia and the Carolinas.
Mannings are now living all across Canada and the United States.
