Surname Monsam - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Monsam: What does the surname Monsam mean?
The surname Monsam is believed to be of English or Irish origin. It is thought to be derived from a prior nickname or place name, possibly referring to one who lived near a priest's house or a marsh, as the name roughly translates to "son of Sam" or, "son of a priest." It may also have been bestowed to denote a person who was ecclesiastically related to a priest. In some cases, the name may even have been derived from a profession or occupation like 'monsignor.'
During the Middle Ages, it was common for a surname to be derived from a physical or personal characteristic, occupation, or geographical location, so many variations of the name Monsam have evolved over the years. The many spellings include Monson, Monsom, Mosom, Monsome, Munson, Munsom, and Monsam, among others.
In America, the Monsam name first appeared before the 17th century with the first known records of Monsam family members in the New Jersey church records of 1699. Since that time, Monsam family members have gone on to participate in the Revolutionary War, WWI, and WWII.
The name Monsam is still prevalent in America with members of this surname scattered across the United States. There are numerous bearers of this surname in Massachusetts, New York, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, and California, as well as other states where the Monsam family has set roots over the years. Many of the family have risen to positions of prominence, including financially, politically, and academically, showing the staying power of the Monsam surname.
Order DNA origin analysisMonsam: Where does the name Monsam come from?
The last name Monsam is relatively uncommon today, though it is mainly found in the United States and parts of Europe.
It is possible that the name Monsam originated with immigrants from Germany in the 18th century who had the last name Monsheimer. Although the origin of the name is somewhat uncertain, common conjectures claim that it is derived from a German words that translates roughly to "belonging to a mountain".
Since the 19th century, the frequency and extent of use of the name Monsam has declined significantly compared to other areas such as the UK and the US. At the time of the US Census in 2018, the surname Monsam was estimated to be the 4,846th most common surname in the US, with only 225 people carrying it.
Though not particularly widespread, the name Monsam is found in certain pockets of the US, often concentrated in small towns or rural areas. Concentrations are particularly high along the Eastern Seaboard, stretching from Maryland to Massachusetts. Another- however smaller- concentration is found along the Mississippi River.
A handful of Monsam families are also found in countries such as the UK, Norway, Denmark and Germany today. Though the extent of their usage is much lower than in the US, there are still records of their use as far back as the 18th century in these countries.
Today, the surname Monsam is not particularly common. Yet, for the families that carry the name, it has a long history and tells a fascinating story.
Variations of the surname Monsam
The surname Monsam (or Monson) is an English patronymic surname. It is derived from the personal name Munce or Mont, a Norman version of the Germanic Munso. It ultimately derives from the Old Germanic Magin-so, composed of the elements Magin, meaning “might” or “strength”; and so, meaning “son”.
Variant spellings of Monsam or Monson include Monceam, Monsam, Monsem, Monseam, Monceom, Munceom, Munceam, and Munceamb.
Surnames with origins from the same personal name include Month, Monce, Munce, Mons, Muncy, Monts and Monser. The Scandinavian form, Monthius is recorded in the Atlantic Coast ports of Northern Europe, where Scandanavians comprised the major population of the early settlers. The Scots form, Monseer, is also recorded in the seventeenth century.
The modern French derivatives of Monsam and Monson are Monse, Monsi, Mouceau, Monsier, Monset, Monsein, Monson and Montserrat.
In the United States, Monsam and Monson are the two more commonly used variants of the name. Monsam is most frequently found in the Midwestern states, while Monson is more commonly seen in New England and the East Coast. In addition, the original spelling Mont can be found in various records around the United States.
Famous people with the name Monsam
- Ashlie Monsam: Actor and occasional photographer from Colorado, USA.
- Patrick Monsam: Former professional soccer player from Australia. 3.afe Monsam: American ice hockey player.
- Jon Monsam: Professional classical guitarist and Professor of Music at Miami University.
- Garrett Monsam: American actor best known for roles in television series such as “Goliath” and “Shameless”.
- Lesley Monsam: British television actress known for roles such as Suzy in “Doctors”, and Janet in “Coronation Street”.
- Kaley Monsam: American professional tennis player.
- Levi Monsam: American author and comic.
- Dru Monsam: Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist best known for his cover of the Coleman Hawkins song “Body and Soul”.
- John III Monsam: Painter and gallery owner from Australia.