Monk Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Monk last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Monk last name
Meaning of the Monk last name: monk. Monk, from Old English munuc, began either as a joke name for a pious or solemn man or as a label for a lay servant of an abbey. General George Monck, who restored Charles II in 1660, wrote this last name with a c, and the jazz pianist Thelonious Monk made the surname famous in America.
Arms associated with the Monk name
Heraldry associated with the Monk surname uses a few strong colours, and each coat of arms has its own blazon.
Get your full Monk family history
This is only a glimpse of the Monk story. The full Monk history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Monk coat of arms. Get the full Monk report.
Monk name FAQ
What does the Monk name mean?
Monk. Common variants include Monck, Munk.
Where does the Monk surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Monk coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Monk coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).