Mansfield is an English surname and given name of Old English origin. It is derived from the word "hand", which means stronghold or fortified place, and "feld", which means field. Therefore, the name Mansfield translates to "stronghold in the field".
The use of Mansfield as a given name is a more recent phenomenon. It was originally used as a surname, but began to be used as a given name in the late 19th century. Today, it is still a relatively uncommon name, but it has been steadily gaining popularity in recent years.
One famous bearer of the name Mansfield is the American actress Jayne Mansfield, born Vera Jayne Palmer, who was known for her work in film, theatre, and television during the 1950s and 1960s. She was a leading sex symbol of the 1950s and was known for her blonde hair, hourglass figure, and distinctive voice.
Overall, Mansfield is a unique and interesting name with a strong historical background. It is a great choice for parents looking for a distinctive name with a powerful meaning.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Mansfield has seen varying levels of popularity among parents in the United States over the years. The earliest record dates back to 1884 with a total of 5 births that year. The name's popularity seemed to increase slightly between 1890 and 1923, peaking at 21 births in 1917.
However, after this peak, there was a noticeable decline in the number of babies named Mansfield each year until the mid-1940s. The lowest point recorded was in 1952 with only 6 births that year. Interestingly enough, there was another small spike between 1955 and 1957 with around 9 births each year.
From then on, the name Mansfield remained relatively uncommon, with an average of fewer than 8 births per year until 1993 when there were 5 recorded births.
Overall, from 1884 to 1993, a total of 513 babies were named Mansfield in the United States. While it may not be one of the most popular names historically or currently, it is clear that some parents have chosen this name for their children throughout different eras.