NameCensus.

UK surname

Monkhouse

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "monk's house" or "house belonging to a monastery."

In the 1881 census there were 702 people recorded with the Monkhouse surname, ranking it #5,177 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 677, ranked #7,926, down from #5,177 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Caldbeck, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Carlisle St Cuthbert. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Copeland and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Monkhouse is 820 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.6%.

1881 census count

702

Ranked #5,177

Modern count

677

2016, ranked #7,926

Peak year

1911

820 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Monkhouse had 702 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,177 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 677 in 2016, ranked #7,926.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 820 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Monkhouse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Monkhouse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Monkhouse 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 556 #4,560
1861 historical 537 #4,889
1881 historical 702 #5,177
1891 historical 738 #5,388
1901 historical 805 #5,605
1911 historical 820 #5,371
1997 modern 673 #7,465
1998 modern 680 #7,648
1999 modern 680 #7,684
2000 modern 668 #7,767
2001 modern 660 #7,704
2002 modern 693 #7,574
2003 modern 669 #7,666
2004 modern 646 #7,875
2005 modern 642 #7,841
2006 modern 635 #7,950
2007 modern 637 #7,998
2008 modern 655 #7,869
2009 modern 685 #7,771
2010 modern 689 #7,874
2011 modern 684 #7,832
2012 modern 664 #7,933
2013 modern 676 #7,960
2014 modern 677 #7,989
2015 modern 675 #7,954
2016 modern 677 #7,926

Geography

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Where Monkhouses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Caldbeck, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Carlisle St Cuthbert, London parishes and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Copeland, Carlisle and Greenock East. 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 Caldbeck Cumberland
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 002 Allerdale
2 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
3 Copeland 004 Copeland
4 Carlisle 013 Carlisle
5 Greenock East Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Monkhouse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Monkhouse

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Monkhouse, 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 Monkhouse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Monkhouse 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Monkhouse is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Monkhouse is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Monkhouse falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Monkhouse 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 Monkhouse, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Monkhouse

The surname Monkhouse has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name "Monkhouse" or "Monkhous," which referred to a dwelling or small settlement associated with monks or a monastery.

The name is believed to have originated in Yorkshire, where there were several places known as "Monkhouse" or similar variations. These places were often located near monasteries or religious establishments, and the name likely referred to a house or residence occupied by monks or those affiliated with the monastery.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Monkhouse can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a person named Johannes de Monkhous is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Parish Registers of Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, where a William Monkhouse is recorded in 1537. The surname also appears in the Musters of the Militia for the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1585, indicating its association with the region.

Notable individuals with the surname Monkhouse include:

1. Robert Monkhouse (1726-1800), an English playwright and poet known for his satirical works. 2. William Cosmo Monkhouse (1840-1901), an English poet, and art critic, who served as the Director of the National Gallery in London. 3. Allan Monkhouse (1858-1936), an English dramatist and novelist, best known for his play "The Laughing Woman" (1913). 4. Bob Monkhouse (1928-2003), a renowned English comedian, actor, and writer, who had a successful career in television and radio. 5. John Monkhouse (1684-1745), an English churchman who served as the Archdeacon of Worcester from 1732 until his death.

While the surname Monkhouse has its roots in Yorkshire, it has since spread to other parts of England and beyond. The name reflects the historical connection between certain settlements and monastic establishments, providing insights into the lives and occupations of those who bore the surname in centuries past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Monkhouse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Monkhouse 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. Cumberland leads with 186 Monkhouses recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.78x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 186 31.78x
Durham 142 7.02x
Lancashire 97 1.20x
Yorkshire 64 0.95x
Northumberland 34 3.36x
Westmorland 28 18.74x
Surrey 26 0.78x
Middlesex 24 0.35x
Kent 19 0.82x
Devon 16 1.13x
Essex 7 0.52x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.16x
Derbyshire 5 0.47x
Gloucestershire 5 0.38x
Lincolnshire 5 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.55x
Somerset 5 0.46x
Sussex 5 0.44x
Berkshire 3 0.59x
Cheshire 3 0.20x
Midlothian 3 0.33x
Peeblesshire 3 9.38x
Roxburghshire 2 1.62x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.24x
Cornwall 1 0.13x
Fife 1 0.25x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Renfrewshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 43 Monkhouses recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.39x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 43 28.39x
St Cuthbert W O 17 59.59x
Aspatria 16 284.19x
Salford 16 6.74x
Camberwell 14 3.22x
Kendal 14 51.19x
Huddersfield 13 13.25x
Caldbeck 12 437.96x
Toxteth Park 12 4.39x
Wetheral 12 154.84x
Winlaton 12 61.82x
Darlington 11 14.09x
Farlam 11 298.91x
Hesket In Forest 11 240.70x
Chirton 10 43.69x
Pennington In Ulverston 10 249.38x
Compton Gifford 9 202.70x
Crosscanonby 9 46.49x
Hulme 9 5.34x
Hunslet 9 8.57x
Newby 9 1578.95x
Above Derwent 8 368.66x
Gilcrux 8 672.27x
York St Mary 8 28.67x
Broughton In Salford 7 9.49x
Crossgate 7 79.19x
Erith 7 30.63x
Framwellgate 7 58.43x
Gillingham 7 14.64x
Jesmond 7 49.19x
Melmerby 7 1060.61x
Radcliffe 7 18.00x
Almondbury 6 18.42x
Arthuret 6 98.36x
Bedlington 6 17.76x
Bishopwearmouth 6 3.46x
Chester Le Street 6 38.63x
Manchester 6 1.65x
Seaton Carew 6 147.42x
Barton 5 666.67x
Bassenthwaite 5 420.17x
Brampton 5 62.34x
Coxlodge 5 65.02x
Exeter Allhallows Onthe 5 781.25x
Iveston 5 53.65x
Kirkdale 5 3.68x
Liverpool 5 1.02x
Oldham 5 1.92x
Ordsall 5 71.23x
Penrith 5 23.12x
Shoreditch London 5 1.70x
Stanhope 5 23.93x
Stockley 5 195.31x
Barnard Castle 4 40.00x
Cliffe 4 76.48x
Cumwhitton 4 341.88x
Derby All Sts 4 44.99x
Egremont 4 28.65x
Hastings Holy Trinity 4 47.34x
Kirkoswald 4 289.86x
Moorsley 4 184.33x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 4 160.00x
Shelley 4 101.52x
Stockton On Tees 4 4.10x
Uphill 4 266.67x
West Derby 4 1.69x
York Marygate St Olave 4 154.44x
Arkholme With Cawood 3 434.78x
Bow London 3 3.47x
Clerkenwell London 3 1.87x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 0.82x
Eggleston 3 172.41x
Great Crosby 3 13.64x
Hunwick Helmington 3 61.73x
Innerleithen 3 35.34x
Lockwood 3 12.38x
Mosedale 3 2727.27x
St Cuthbert Within 3 44.25x
St Mary Within 3 41.04x
Stroud 3 11.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 61
Elizabeth 27
Margaret 23
Jane 22
Sarah 22
Hannah 14
Ann 12
Annie 12
Isabella 12
Emma 8
Ellen 6
Ada 5
Charlotte 5
Alice 4
Anne 4
Eliza 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Agnes 3
Dorothy 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Florence 3
Jessie 3
Martha 3
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Constance 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Grace 2
Leonora 2
Mabel 2
Margret 2
Marion 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Agatha 1
Amy 1
Bridgit 1
Eliz 1
Eliz. 1
Elizbeth 1
Elizh. 1
Ella 1
Henrietta 1
Janet 1
Jeanie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 55
William 36
Thomas 35
Joseph 23
James 16
Robert 13
George 12
Edward 11
Richard 10
Arthur 7
Charles 7
Henry 7
Isaac 7
Alfred 6
Ernest 6
Frederick 5
Frank 4
Matthew 4
Samuel 4
Tom 4
Harry 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Jacob 2
Jonathan 2
Major 2
Thos. 2
Alec 1
Allan 1
Alwin 1
Bart. 1
Bertie 1
Bertram 1
David 1
Geo.Foster 1
Geo.Norman 1
Geoffrey 1
Harold 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Hy 1
Johnston 1
Joshua 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Miles 1
Mirehouse 1
Octavius 1
Wm.S. 1

FAQ

Monkhouse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Monkhouse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 702 people were recorded with the Monkhouse surname. That placed it at #5,177 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Monkhouse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 677 in 2016. That gives Monkhouse a modern rank of #7,926.

What does the Monkhouse surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "monk's house" or "house belonging to a monastery."

What does the Monkhouse map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Monkhouse 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.