NameCensus.

UK surname

Monk

An occupational surname referring to a monk, someone who lived in a monastery or provided religious services.

In the 1881 census there were 6,299 people recorded with the Monk surname, ranking it #683 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,954, ranked #974, down from #683 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Benbecula and North Uist, Uttlesford and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Monk is 8,476 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.4%.

1881 census count

6,299

Ranked #683

Modern count

6,954

2016, ranked #974

Peak year

1911

8,476 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Monk had 6,299 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #683 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,954 in 2016, ranked #974.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,476 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Monk surname distribution map

The map shows where the Monk surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Monk surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Monk over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 3,957 #722
1861 historical 3,780 #745
1881 historical 6,299 #683
1891 historical 6,502 #702
1901 historical 7,699 #699
1911 historical 8,476 #586
1997 modern 7,656 #839
1998 modern 7,865 #851
1999 modern 7,901 #853
2000 modern 7,824 #861
2001 modern 7,667 #856
2002 modern 7,793 #863
2003 modern 7,462 #879
2004 modern 7,451 #879
2005 modern 7,201 #896
2006 modern 7,154 #905
2007 modern 7,162 #912
2008 modern 7,149 #920
2009 modern 7,319 #920
2010 modern 7,363 #933
2011 modern 7,256 #934
2012 modern 7,046 #941
2013 modern 7,150 #947
2014 modern 7,143 #956
2015 modern 7,030 #960
2016 modern 6,954 #974

Geography

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Where Monks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Preston and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Benbecula and North Uist, Uttlesford, Charnwood and Braintree. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Benbecula and North Uist Na h-Eileanan Siar
2 Uttlesford 006 Uttlesford
3 Uttlesford 007 Uttlesford
4 Charnwood 009 Charnwood
5 Braintree 005 Braintree

Forenames

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First names often paired with Monk

These lists show first names that appear often with the Monk surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Monk

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Monk, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Monk surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Monk household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Monk is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Monk is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Monk falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Monk is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Monk, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Monk

The surname MONK has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word 'munuc', meaning a monk or a religious recluse. It was initially used as an occupational name for someone who was a monk or lived a monastic lifestyle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Monac'. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in various parts of England.

In the 13th century, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire as 'le Monk'. This form indicates that the name was also used as a descriptive surname, referring to someone who had a monkish appearance or demeanor.

The surname MONK can also be traced back to various place names in England, such as Monk Bretton in Yorkshire, Monkton in various counties, and Monk Soham in Suffolk. These place names likely originated from the presence of monastic settlements or churches in those areas.

One notable bearer of the surname was George Monk, 1st Duke of Albemarle (1608-1670), a renowned English military leader who played a crucial role in the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Another prominent figure was Maria Monk (1816-1849), a Canadian woman who published a controversial book alleging misconduct in a Montreal convent.

Other historical figures with the surname MONK include Thelonious Monk (1917-1982), an influential American jazz pianist and composer, and William Henry Monk (1823-1889), an English composer and church musician best known for his hymn tunes.

In the United States, the surname MONK can be traced back to early colonial times, with records showing individuals bearing the name in Virginia and Massachusetts in the 17th century. One notable American with this surname was Alfred Monk (1869-1930), a lawyer and politician who served as the 25th Lieutenant Governor of California.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Monk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Monk surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 970 Monks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 970 1.33x
Middlesex 970 1.58x
Essex 791 6.53x
Surrey 635 2.12x
Kent 377 1.80x
Hertfordshire 208 4.92x
Leicestershire 207 3.04x
Sussex 191 1.85x
Gloucestershire 170 1.41x
Staffordshire 155 0.75x
Hampshire 152 1.21x
Buckinghamshire 126 3.40x
Yorkshire 119 0.20x
Devon 116 0.91x
Warwickshire 114 0.74x
Northamptonshire 104 1.80x
Worcestershire 99 1.24x
Berkshire 78 1.69x
Derbyshire 76 0.79x
Nottinghamshire 69 0.83x
Oxfordshire 64 1.69x
Inverness-shire 56 3.06x
Dorset 42 1.04x
Somerset 40 0.40x
Cornwall 39 0.56x
Cheshire 36 0.27x
Bedfordshire 32 1.01x
Durham 27 0.15x
Norfolk 27 0.29x
Wiltshire 27 0.50x
Suffolk 25 0.33x
Shropshire 23 0.43x
Lincolnshire 20 0.20x
Herefordshire 17 0.68x
Lanarkshire 16 0.08x
Huntingdonshire 11 0.90x
Northumberland 11 0.12x
Royal Navy 8 1.09x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.18x
Cumberland 7 0.13x
Glamorgan 6 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.31x
Argyllshire 3 0.18x
Channel Islands 3 0.17x
Monmouthshire 3 0.07x
Denbighshire 2 0.09x
Midlothian 2 0.02x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.04x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.04x
Selkirkshire 1 0.18x
Westmorland 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 108 Monks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.57x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 108 5.57x
St Pancras London 103 2.09x
Islington London 87 1.46x
Preston 87 4.47x
West Ham 85 3.18x
Hackney London 84 2.44x
Lambeth 71 1.33x
Birmingham 64 1.24x
Great Bolton 64 6.64x
Brighton 62 2.97x
St Marylebone London 60 1.83x
Deptford St Paul 59 3.65x
Camberwell 56 1.43x
Mile End Old Town 54 5.57x
Clayton Le Moors 52 36.80x
Leicester St Margaret 51 3.07x
Kensington London 49 1.44x
Battersea 48 2.13x
West Bromwich 43 3.63x
Great Harwood 42 31.91x
Bitton Oldland 41 33.32x
Chorley 41 10.03x
Shoreditch London 41 1.54x
Clavering 39 177.84x
Newington 39 1.72x
Broxted 38 259.56x
Accrington 37 5.59x
Northfield 36 23.68x
Southampton St Mary 33 4.17x
High Ongar 32 143.31x
Rotherhithe 32 4.22x
South Uist 32 25.03x
Bethnal Green London 31 1.16x
Bromley London 31 2.30x
Loughborough 31 10.04x
Bow London 30 3.84x
Padiham 30 17.05x
Waltham Holy Cross 29 25.61x
Harborne 28 4.22x
Edmonton 27 5.46x
Plymouth Charles The 27 4.80x
Sheering 27 236.63x
Lewisham 26 2.33x
Aylesbury 25 15.21x
Aston 24 0.56x
Great Waltham 24 48.64x
Hitchin 24 12.57x
Liverpool 24 0.54x
Wimbledon 24 7.15x
Bozeat 22 87.86x
Good Easter 22 201.47x
Painswick 22 25.85x
Poplar London 22 1.90x
Southwark St Saviour 22 6.98x
St George Hanover 22 2.75x
Clerkenwell London 21 1.45x
Croydon 21 1.27x
Erith 21 10.18x
Kings Langley 21 68.09x
Northiam 21 82.74x
Plumstead 21 3.01x
St Luke London 21 2.13x
Hammersmith London 19 1.26x
Hemel Hempstead 19 9.97x
Portsea 19 0.77x
Watton 19 110.02x
Willesden 19 3.28x
Woolwich 19 2.46x
Barking 18 5.08x
Blackrod 18 19.89x
Chelsea London 18 0.97x
Halstead 18 12.74x
Mile End New Town 18 21.48x
Plymouth St Andrew 18 1.83x
West Derby 18 0.84x
Willingale Doe 18 202.47x
Arkesden 17 192.74x
Dorking 17 8.47x
Leyland 17 13.42x
Lowestoft 17 4.81x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Monk surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 384
Elizabeth 266
Sarah 226
Jane 131
Alice 123
Ann 115
Eliza 110
Emma 109
Annie 99
Emily 92
Ellen 83
Margaret 56
Louisa 51
Maria 49
Martha 49
Caroline 47
Charlotte 42
Hannah 40
Harriet 40
Ada 35
Clara 35
Fanny 35
Susan 35
Florence 33
Lucy 30
Edith 29
Catherine 27
Agnes 24
Harriett 24
Amelia 23
Rebecca 23
Anne 19
Kate 18
Minnie 17
Elizth. 16
Rose 16
Frances 14
Matilda 14
Esther 13
Isabella 13
Jessie 13
Amy 12
Julia 12
Lydia 12
Susannah 12
Sophia 11
Rosa 10
Betsy 9
Gertrude 9
Laura 9

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Monk surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 404
John 339
George 273
Thomas 219
James 201
Henry 148
Charles 138
Joseph 94
Alfred 85
Arthur 78
Frederick 73
Walter 60
Edward 59
Robert 56
Albert 54
Samuel 52
Richard 45
Harry 38
Ernest 37
Frank 26
Herbert 25
David 22
Edwin 20
Daniel 19
Francis 16
Fred 16
Wm. 16
Stephen 15
Benjamin 13
Mark 13
Jonathan 10
Fredk. 9
Chas. 8
Fredrick 8
Peter 8
Sidney 8
Geo. 6
Richd. 6
Thos. 6
Tom 6
Abraham 5
Evan 5
Isaac 5
Jonathon 5
Leonard 5
Percy 5
Ralph 5
Amos 4
Edgar 4
Joshua 4

FAQ

Monk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Monk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,299 people were recorded with the Monk surname. That placed it at #683 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Monk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,954 in 2016. That gives Monk a modern rank of #974.

What does the Monk surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a monk, someone who lived in a monastery or provided religious services.

What does the Monk map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Monk bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.