The origin of the parish name is obscure because there have been many different spellings throughout history, including Maenor Owain, Manerowen, Manorawen and Manernawen, but the earliest recorded document is dated 1453. It is marked as Manerowen on a 1583 parish map of Pembrokeshire. In 1688 John Lewis Esquire of Manernawen (sic) was appointed Commissioner for Haverfordwest under an act to collect money for a royal grant. The parish church of St Mary is 19th century with later additions, but contains a memorial dated about 1670; the oldest gravestone is about 1791. The church was closed for a time following a bat infestation, but remedial work resulted in its reopening in 2015. Manorowen is the name of an estate, whose house, walled garden and gazebo are Grade II
listed. The present house dates from about 1830. According to the charity
Parks and Gardens, the site was first created between 1650 and 1699, and was recorded by
Richard Fenton as belonging to his great grandfather John Lewis (see above) in the late 17th century when it was called Manarnawen.
Lewis's 1833
Topographical Dictionary of Wales notes Manorowen (or Maenor-Owain) as being a small parish in the Hundred of
Dewisland, with 220 inhabitants. From 1913 until 2004, there was a school at Manorowen. The school's log books, admission register, photographs and miscellaneous papers are held at the Pembrokeshire Archives. ==Notable people==