NameCensus.

UK surname

Munroe

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the River Roe or a place called Roe in Northern Ireland.

In the 1881 census there were 809 people recorded with the Munroe surname, ranking it #4,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,120, ranked #5,261, down from #4,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Middlesbrough, Halton and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Munroe is 1,163 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.4%.

1881 census count

809

Ranked #4,612

Modern count

1,120

2016, ranked #5,261

Peak year

2014

1,163 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Munroe had 809 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,120 in 2016, ranked #5,261.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 935 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Munroe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Munroe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Munroe 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 644 #4,032
1861 historical 506 #5,174
1881 historical 809 #4,612
1891 historical 827 #4,909
1901 historical 935 #4,995
1911 historical 538 #7,408
1997 modern 929 #5,822
1998 modern 941 #5,952
1999 modern 964 #5,885
2000 modern 989 #5,738
2001 modern 968 #5,734
2002 modern 1,033 #5,549
2003 modern 977 #5,699
2004 modern 977 #5,704
2005 modern 972 #5,661
2006 modern 1,026 #5,444
2007 modern 1,031 #5,472
2008 modern 1,052 #5,421
2009 modern 1,113 #5,271
2010 modern 1,154 #5,223
2011 modern 1,128 #5,258
2012 modern 1,094 #5,315
2013 modern 1,120 #5,296
2014 modern 1,163 #5,150
2015 modern 1,132 #5,224
2016 modern 1,120 #5,261

Geography

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Where Munroes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Middlesbrough, Halton, Copeland, Blaby and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Gateshead Durham
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Middlesbrough 010 Middlesbrough
2 Halton 013 Halton
3 Copeland 008 Copeland
4 Blaby 005 Blaby
5 Redcar and Cleveland 009 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Munroe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Munroe

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Munroe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Munroe 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Munroe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Munroe 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

Munroe falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Munroe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Munroe

The surname MUNROE is of Scottish origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words 'mun' meaning 'hill' or 'mountain' and 'rath' meaning 'fort' or 'stronghold'. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a fortified hill or mountain.

The name was first recorded in the late 12th century in the Scottish county of Ayrshire, where it appeared as 'Monrui' and 'Munrou'. By the 13th century, variations such as 'Munro' and 'Monro' were common in the same region. The earliest known bearer of the name was Sir Donald Monro, who was granted lands in Ross-shire by King Alexander II in the early 13th century.

In the 14th century, the MUNROE name appeared in several historical records, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland and the Ragman Rolls, which documented Scottish nobles who swore fealty to Edward I of England. Notable figures from this period include Sir Reginald Munro, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the MUNROE name was well-established in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the counties of Ross-shire and Sutherland. Several prominent members of the clan included Sir Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis (1542-1633), a renowned military leader who fought in the Thirty Years' War, and Sir George Munro (1610-1698), a general in the Swedish army during the same conflict.

In the 18th century, the MUNROE name gained wider recognition through the exploits of Sir Hector Munro (1726-1805), a Scottish soldier and commander who served in the British Army during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Munro (1761-1827), a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of Madras and played a significant role in the expansion of British rule in India.

Throughout history, the MUNROE surname has been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Munro's Hill in Aberdeenshire and Munro's Acre in Inverness-shire. These toponyms reflect the clan's historical ties to specific regions and territories within the Scottish Highlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Munroe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Munroe 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 125 Munroes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 125 1.33x
Middlesex 78 0.99x
Lanarkshire 74 2.90x
Yorkshire 59 0.75x
Durham 55 2.34x
Argyllshire 42 19.10x
Midlothian 37 3.50x
Surrey 36 0.94x
Northumberland 25 2.13x
Ayrshire 23 3.89x
Cumberland 21 3.09x
Banffshire 19 11.59x
Essex 18 1.15x
Renfrewshire 18 2.94x
Aberdeenshire 17 2.32x
Hampshire 13 0.80x
Fife 12 2.57x
Kent 12 0.45x
Ross-shire 12 5.53x
Dunbartonshire 10 4.71x
Warwickshire 10 0.50x
Angus 9 1.23x
Devon 8 0.49x
Inverness-shire 8 3.39x
Sussex 8 0.60x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.66x
Perthshire 7 1.97x
Staffordshire 6 0.23x
Glamorgan 5 0.36x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.84x
Cheshire 4 0.23x
Royal Navy 4 4.25x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.91x
Clackmannanshire 2 3.06x
Morayshire 2 1.63x
Nairnshire 2 8.29x
Norfolk 2 0.16x
Suffolk 2 0.21x
Buteshire 1 2.09x
Channel Islands 1 0.43x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.57x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Isle of Man 1 0.68x
Kincardineshire 1 1.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.13x
Orkney 1 1.15x
Shetland 1 1.24x
Stirlingshire 1 0.34x

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 23 Munroes recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.22x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 23 9.22x
Glasgow 19 4.19x
Kilninver Kilmelford 18 1636.36x
Govan 17 2.69x
Inverkeithny 17 680.00x
Kilbrandon 17 464.48x
Liverpool 17 2.99x
Over Darwen 15 20.03x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 14 13.75x
Preston 14 5.58x
Barony 13 2.01x
Leeds 12 2.71x
Salford 12 4.35x
West Ham 12 3.48x
Holy Trinity 11 5.84x
Lanark 11 53.50x
Tynemouth 11 17.47x
Camberwell 10 1.98x
Plumstead 9 10.02x
South Leith 9 7.56x
Uig 9 91.46x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 1.88x
Galston 8 49.47x
Huddersfield 8 7.01x
Westoe 8 6.00x
Aston 7 1.28x
Bishopwearmouth 7 3.47x
Darlington 7 7.71x
Everton 7 2.34x
Islington London 7 0.91x
Sculcoates 7 5.64x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 4.40x
St Luke London 7 5.52x
Sunderland 7 16.86x
Whitechapel London 7 8.99x
Aberdeen Old Machar 6 3.93x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 8.50x
Brighton 6 2.23x
Enfield 6 11.57x
Falkland 6 81.52x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 8.55x
Ordsall 6 73.62x
Ormesby 6 28.52x
Rotherhithe 6 6.15x
Stevenston 6 38.94x
Bermondsey 5 2.13x
Bonhill 5 14.67x
Chigwell 5 33.97x
Cleator 5 17.66x
Dundee 5 1.83x
Kensington London 5 1.14x
Manchester 5 1.19x
Newcastle Under Lyme 5 10.60x
North Shields 5 21.31x
Paisley High Church 5 10.26x
Southampton St Mary 5 4.91x
St George In East 5 9.30x
Stow 5 91.91x
Toxteth Park 5 1.57x
West Greenock 5 4.55x
Blair Athole 4 84.57x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.14x
Cramond 4 49.88x
Durham St Nicholas 4 69.32x
Ennerdale Kinniside 4 500.00x
Huntly 4 33.59x
Kilwinning 4 20.94x
Linthorpe 4 8.56x
Lower Darwen 4 32.49x
Mile End Old Town 4 3.21x
Newton On Ayr 4 22.59x
Normanby In 4 19.11x
Paignton 4 31.97x
Portsea 4 1.26x
St George Hanover 4 3.88x
St Giles In Fields 4 14.68x
St Pancras London 4 0.63x
Streatham 4 6.82x
Westminster St John 4 4.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 18
Annie 12
Ann 11
Catherine 11
Jane 11
Alice 10
Margaret 10
Isabella 8
Eliza 7
Ellen 6
Bridget 5
Maria 5
Edith 4
Emma 4
Esther 4
Kate 4
Susannah 4
Charlotte 3
Frances 3
Louisa 3
Margt. 3
Amelia 2
Caroline 2
Christiana 2
Christina 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Martha 2
Marther 2
Matilda 2
Mgt. 2
Rhoda 2
Betsy 1
Cath. 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Janet 1
John 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
James 25
William 24
George 17
Thomas 12
Henry 11
Alexander 8
Frederick 8
David 7
Hugh 6
Robert 6
Donald 5
Andrew 4
Joseph 4
Matthew 4
Richard 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Daniel 3
Harry 3
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Jas. 2
Matthias 2
Peter 2
Procter 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alex. 1
Arthur 1
Baillie 1
Benjm. 1
Bernard 1
C. 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Ellis 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jane 1
Keneth 1
Martin 1
Mathias 1

FAQ

Munroe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Munroe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 809 people were recorded with the Munroe surname. That placed it at #4,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Munroe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,120 in 2016. That gives Munroe a modern rank of #5,261.

What does the Munroe surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the River Roe or a place called Roe in Northern Ireland.

What does the Munroe map show?

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