mancham

Mancham is a surname of Seychellois origin. It is most prominently associated with James Mancham (1931–2017), a Seychellois politician who became the first President of Seychelles after the country gained independence in 1976. Mancham played a key role in the independence movement and founded a political party in Seychelles to challenge the ruling establishment. His presidency lasted until 1977, when a coup d'état led by France-Albert René ousted him and established a one-party state. After the coup, Mancham lived in exile for many years, primarily in the United Kingdom, before returning to Seychelles in the early 1990s as the country transitioned to multi-party democracy. He remained a public figure and elder statesman until his death in 2017.

Beyond James Mancham, the surname is relatively uncommon and is most often found among Seychellois families and their descendants. There is no widely recognized geographical, religious, or institutional use of the name beyond this notable figure.