"The name 'Mangum' is believed by many to be English origin derived from the ancient personal name of man(n) (which is of Norse and German origin) signifying 'a master, a gentleman or a warrior' plus the Welsh-Cornish name-element 'Gun' of 'Gum' signifying 'a plain.'  Therefore 'Mangum' can possibly be interpreted as a 'plains man' or 'warrior of the plains.'  The Welsh word 'man' denotes 'small' and sometimes indicated a fair servant.  The name "Man' is found in the Domesday Book in 1086.  Oral family history among some of our Mangum 'cousins' is that our early Mangum ancestor came from Santon or Sanrone, Ireland...Others...contend that our Mangum progenitor came from Wales." The Mangums of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Utah and adjoining States, by John T. Palmer, PhD.

Most of the Mangums in the U.S. descended from John Mangum of Isle of Wight County, VA.  Born cir. 1674, where unknown, he died in Isle of Wight September 26, 1737.  His son, William Mangum Sr., was born about 1706 in Surry County, VA, married Mary Person, and relocated to the Orange/Granville County, NC area, where he died after 1787.  William's son, James Mangum, was born January 2, 1734 in Surry County, VA and died September 15, 1757.  He and wife Sarah are, by family tradition, the parents of Jacob Mangum, born about 1757 in NC.  After the death of his first wife, Esther Gibson, he married Nancy Anna Gibson.  He relocated first to Richmond County, NC, before about 1801 relocating to Chesterfield County, SC, living just east of current day Pageland.  Jacob is the ancestor of the Chesterfield County family and many that moved on "west" to Alabama, etc.  He was the father of Rev. James Mangum, Mary Mangum, Sarah Mangum, Elizabeth Mangum, Arthur Mangum, William Mangum, Agnes Mangum, Joseph Mangum, John C. Mangum, Gibson Mangum, Jacob Mangum Jr., Catherine Mangum, Fletcher Mangum, and Elisha Mangum.

Thanks to John T. Palmer, PhD for the use of his information.