NameCensus.

UK surname

Monroe

Scottish and Irish surname derived from the Gaelic elements "mun" meaning "hill" and "ruadh" meaning "red."

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Monroe surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 402, ranked #11,837, up from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Larbert, Willesden and Bowden Magna. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torbay, Kensington and Chelsea and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Monroe is 402 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 206.9%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

402

2016, ranked #11,837

Peak year

2016

402 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Monroe had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 402 in 2016, ranked #11,837.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 147 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Monroe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Monroe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Monroe 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 114 #15,716
1861 historical 147 #15,539
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 124 #20,163
1911 historical 76 #25,221
1997 modern 212 #16,996
1998 modern 219 #17,115
1999 modern 237 #16,360
2000 modern 220 #17,138
2001 modern 209 #17,469
2002 modern 234 #16,543
2003 modern 225 #16,808
2004 modern 236 #16,335
2005 modern 236 #16,286
2006 modern 237 #16,334
2007 modern 235 #16,668
2008 modern 246 #16,247
2009 modern 264 #15,798
2010 modern 293 #14,974
2011 modern 280 #15,310
2012 modern 324 #13,751
2013 modern 356 #13,016
2014 modern 377 #12,535
2015 modern 380 #12,364
2016 modern 402 #11,837

Geography

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Where Monroes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Larbert, Willesden, Bowden Magna, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torbay, Kensington and Chelsea, Carlisle, Harrow and Merton. 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 Larbert Stirling
2 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Bowden Magna Leicestershire
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torbay 014 Torbay
2 Kensington and Chelsea 021 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Carlisle 007 Carlisle
4 Harrow 031 Harrow
5 Merton 006 Merton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Monroe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Monroe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Monroe, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Monroe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Monroe 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Monroe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Monroe is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Monroe falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Monroe

The surname Monroe is believed to have originated in Scotland, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "muinnor," which means "ancestor" or "from the protector." The name may also be connected to the ancient Scottish clan of Munro or Monro.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Monroe can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century. These rolls were administrative records maintained by the Scottish Exchequer, and they mention individuals with the name Monroe or variations of it, such as Monro or Munro.

The name Monroe has been associated with various historical figures throughout the centuries. One notable example is Robert Monroe, a Scottish soldier and diplomat who lived in the 16th century and served as a colonel in the Swedish army. He was born around 1558 and played a crucial role in the Thirty Years' War.

Another prominent figure with the surname Monroe was James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States. He was born on April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and served as president from 1817 to 1825. His administration is notable for the adoption of the Monroe Doctrine, which became a cornerstone of American foreign policy.

In the realm of literature, the name Monroe is associated with Marilyn Monroe, the iconic American actress, model, and singer. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, she adopted the stage name Marilyn Monroe and became one of the most celebrated and enduring cultural icons of the 20th century.

The surname Monroe has also been linked to various place names, such as Monroe County in several states, including Florida, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Some of these place names may have been derived from the surname itself or influenced by individuals with the name Monroe.

Other notable individuals with the surname Monroe include Harriet Monroe, an American editor and poet born in 1860, who founded the influential literary magazine "Poetry." There is also Bill Monroe, an American musician and singer-songwriter born in 1911, who is considered the father of bluegrass music.

While the surname Monroe has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world and continues to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Monroe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Monroe 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. Middlesex leads with 15 Monroes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.17x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 15 1.17x
Lancashire 12 0.79x
Argyllshire 8 22.32x
Glamorgan 8 3.57x
Leicestershire 8 5.60x
Midlothian 8 4.64x
Durham 7 1.83x
Warwickshire 7 2.16x
Angus 6 5.03x
Caithness 6 34.03x
Lanarkshire 6 1.44x
Northumberland 5 2.61x
Yorkshire 5 0.39x
Aberdeenshire 3 2.52x
Monmouthshire 3 3.22x
Perthshire 3 5.19x
Surrey 3 0.48x
Cheshire 2 0.70x
Stirlingshire 2 4.21x
Sussex 2 0.92x
Ayrshire 1 1.04x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.28x
Cornwall 1 0.69x
Cumberland 1 0.90x
Derbyshire 1 0.50x
Fife 1 1.31x
Gloucestershire 1 0.40x
Kent 1 0.23x
Renfrewshire 1 1.00x
Royal Navy 1 6.52x
Selkirkshire 1 8.58x
Somerset 1 0.48x
Wiltshire 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Georges in Midlothian leads with 8 Monroes recorded in 1881 and an index of 223.46x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Georges 8 223.46x
Great Bowden 8 615.38x
Lochgoilhead 8 3333.33x
Birmingham 7 6.47x
Liverpool 7 7.54x
Willesden 7 57.66x
Latheron 5 169.49x
North Shields 5 130.89x
Escomb 4 227.27x
Liff Benvie 4 22.09x
Penarth 4 182.65x
Barony 3 2.85x
Bedwellty 3 18.26x
Cardiff St Mary 3 24.29x
Hulme 3 9.41x
Lambeth 3 2.67x
Moulin 3 329.67x
Poplar London 3 12.35x
Bradford 2 6.48x
Govan 2 1.94x
Mile End Old Town 2 9.84x
Stirling 2 33.39x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 4.02x
Bishop Auckland 1 19.46x
Brighton 1 2.28x
Cambuslang 1 23.81x
Chelsea London 1 2.58x
Cogan 1 303.03x
Dalrymple 1 166.67x
Drumoak 1 243.90x
Dundee 1 2.25x
Falmouth 1 19.38x
Galashiels 1 23.20x
Gate Fulford 1 33.56x
Glenmuick Tullich 1 116.28x
Great Sankey 1 357.14x
Harrow On The Hill 1 38.91x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 6.03x
Houston Killallan 1 103.09x
Inverkeillor 1 135.14x
Kennoway 1 144.93x
Kirkdale 1 3.89x
Mellor 1 181.82x
Middlesbrough 1 6.02x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 72.99x
Sale 1 28.65x
Salisbury St Edmund 1 54.64x
St Mary Le Strand 1 243.90x
Stanmer 1 1666.67x
Stapleton 1 20.88x
Tranmere 1 9.58x
Walcot 1 9.06x
Westoe 1 4.61x
Whicham 1 588.24x
Wick 1 17.57x
Wycombe 1 17.24x
York St Sampson 1 370.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Ann 5
Elizabeth 4
Sarah 3
Edith 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Betty 1
Daisy 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jenny 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
M.J. 1
Margret 1
Matha 1
Matilda 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
John 4
James 3
Charles 2
George 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Bryan 1
Danial 1
Findlay 1
Henry 1
Kiddle 1
Loftus 1
Michael 1
Neil 1
Patrick 1
Syned 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Monroe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Monroe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Monroe surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Monroe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 402 in 2016. That gives Monroe a modern rank of #11,837.

What does the Monroe surname mean?

Scottish and Irish surname derived from the Gaelic elements "mun" meaning "hill" and "ruadh" meaning "red."

What does the Monroe map show?

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