Mantell

Mantell is an English surname that has appeared in science, exploration, and astronomy. It is associated with notable individuals in the history of natural history, and with an eponymous lunar feature named in honor of one of them.

Gideon Mantell (1790–1852) was an English physician who became a pioneer in paleontology. In 1822 he described Iguanodon based on fossils associated with evidence from his wife, Mary Ann Mantell. His work contributed to the early development of dinosaur paleontology and helped catalyze the broader scientific interest in extinct reptiles during the early 19th century.

Walter Mantell, the son of Gideon Mantell, was a naturalist who worked in New Zealand. He studied native fauna, including moa remains, and contributed specimens and knowledge to growing scientific collections and museums in the region.

Mantell is also the name of a lunar crater, Mantell, named in honor of Gideon Mantell. The crater is one of several celestial features commemorating pioneer scientists and their contributions to geology and paleontology.

In contemporary usage, Mantell remains a recognized surname with historical significance in paleontology and natural history, particularly through the contributions of Gideon Mantell and his son Walter Mantell.