MONK
Monk
Monk is a surname of Old English origin, derived from the word "monach" which means a man who has dedicated his life to religious beliefs and practices in a monastery. The surname Monk is classified as an occupational surname as it was originally used to denote someone who was a monk or associated with a monastery.
The surname Monk is found throughout the United Kingdom, with concentrations in areas where monastic life was historically prevalent such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. The earliest recorded instance of the surname dates back to the 12th century in England.
Notable individuals bearing the surname Monk include Sir James Henry Monk, a distinguished clergyman and academic, who served as the Bishop of Gloucester in the early 19th century, and Thelonious Monk, the renowned American jazz pianist, who has ancestral roots in the UK.
The name Monk has endured over the centuries and continues to be a recognisable surname in modern British society, symbolising a connection to the tradition of monastic life and spiritual devotion.
There are approximately 10,647 people named Monk in the UK. That makes it the 865th most common surname in Britain. Around 163 in a million people in Britain are named Monk.
Surname type: Status name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.