Dictionary of Family Names

MANNERS   (French)   From manoir, and that from the Latin manere, to stay or to abide.  Lands granted to some military man or baron by the king, a custom brought in by the Normans.

Manners, first Earl of Rutland, soon after his creation, told Sir Thomas More that he was too much elated by his preferment, and really verified the old proverb, "Honores mutant Mores."

"Nay, my lord," retorted Sir Thomas, "the proverb does much better in English, 'Honors change Manners.'"

It is the opinion of Camden that this family received its name from the village of Manor, near Lanchester, in Durham, England.