Surname Monks - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Monks: What does the surname Monks mean?
The last name Monks is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "O'Maoinghin" or "O'Mongain", which means "descendent of the Monk". Thus, the surname Monks often signifies lineage or descent from someone who was a monk, detoted to religious life or monastic service. However, it should be noted that in early history, this did not necessarily imply the ancestor was a religious figure - monikers often formed recognisable identifiers for people, not always directly correlating with their profession. The surname Monks is administered throughout Ireland and England where it has been seen since medieval times. The prevalence of the surname Monks in different regions sometimes varies, depending on historical migration and settlement patterns. Some variations of the surname Monks include Monck, Monk, Monks, Moncke, among others.
Order DNA origin analysisMonks: Where does the name Monks come from?
The last name Monks is most commonly found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The United States has the largest population of individuals with the last name Monks. As of the U.S. Census of 2010, the number of people with the last name Monks was 6,685.
The majority of Americans with the last name Monks hail from the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The states of Michigan, Ohio, and California also have notable populations sharing the Monks surname.
The United Kingdom is the second most common location to find individuals with the last name Monks. A study conducted by the Private Banking body of the UK found that the surname Monks is most concentrated in the coastal East Anglian region of England. Suffolk County, in particular, has the highest concentration of individuals with the last name Monks, followed by Norfolk County and Essex County.
In addition, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have all recorded populations of individuals with the Monks surname. Canada has the largest concentration of individuals with the Monks surname outside of the United States and the UK.
In general, the Monks surname is a variably rare and evenly distributed surname across the English-speaking world. This suggests that Monks may have originated as either an occupational or local surname. Further research would be necessary to establish what the surname’s precise roots and diffusion were historically.
Variations of the surname Monks
The surname Monks is a habitational name that originated from various places named Monk in England. Variants of this name include Monke, Moncke, Munke, Muncke, Monnke, Monncken and Monkhouse. The spelling of these surnames usually changed drastically when they were recorded by scribes or ancient officials, resulting in different variations.
In modern times, variations of the surname Monks would likely include Muncy, Monka, Monczyk, Munks, Munck, Munkes, Moncken and Monkhouse. Other common spellings include Munk, Monce, Munkes, Mankes and Manck.
The surname Monks is associated with a coat of arms granted in Norfolk, England. The original bearer of this coat of arms, whose name would have been Monks, likely derived from the Old English monks, which meant a monk in a monastic house.
Other surname variations can be seen with a variety of different spellings. These may include Munckes, Monksy, Manx, Monkson, Monckton, Monksley, Monksley, Monckeby and Monksbury.
The surname Monks is found in many countries around the world, particularly in the British Isles. It is most common in England, but can also be found scattered around Wales, Ireland and Scotland. It remains quite a popular name in those regions of the world.
Famous people with the name Monks
- Dave Monks: Indie rock musician
- Sam Monks: English Actor
- Leonard Monks: Australian Actor
- Lola Monks: British Film Actress
- Stuart Monks: Canadian Actor
- Owen Monks: American Actor
- Bill Monks: Australian Politician
- Mandie Monks: Canadian Opera Singer
- George Monks: English Musician
- John Monks: British Trade Union Leader
- William Monks: American Actor
- Ed Monks: British Artist
- Nick Monks: British Jazz Musician
- Joe Monks: Comic Book Artist
- Stephen Monks: American Entrepreneur
- Ruth Monks: American Realtor
- Roy Monks: British Tutor
- Wendy Monks: Canadian Photographer
- Carol Monks: Greek Singer
- Sandra Monks: German Politician