Mander Family History

English: of uncertain origin. It may be a nickname for a beggar, from an agent derivative of maund ‘beg’ (probably from Old French mendier, Late Latin mendicare); this word is not attested before the 16th century, but may well have been in use earlier. Alternatively it may be an occupational name for a maker of baskets, from an agent derivative of Middle English maund ‘basket’ (Old French mande, of Germanic origin); or perhaps for someone in some position of authority, from a shortened form of Middle English coma(u)nder (from coma(u)nden ‘to command’). German: habitational name from places called Mandern, in Hesse and the Rhineland. Belgian (van der Mander): habitational name from a place called Ter Mandere or Mandel, in West Flanders, derived from the river name Mandel. Indian (Panjab): Sikh (Dogar, Jat) name of unknown meaning, based on the names of clans in these communities.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press