Recorded as Manie, Mannie, Many, Manny and even Meny, this is believed to be a surname of Scottish origins. Recordings are quite rare, but the earliest one known is that of William Manny or Mannie, who was the tenant of Coupar Mill in the county of Angus in 1447. The meaning of the surname is uncertain, but it is likely that it was a diminutive endearment form of the name Man or Mann, which in its early forms had several meanings. These included a word or name for a friend or servant, a manager, or a skilled apprentice. The surname Manson is the patronymic from 'Man(n)', or from the Norwegian Magnusson, with in that case the derivative as 'man' or 'main' means 'great'. Other early recordings include John Many who held a crofters lease in Angus in 1549, whilst Robert Mannie was a charter witness in the town of Brechin in 1589. The name also appears as Mani, an almost Italian form, which is now believed to be extinct..