Origin of the Name Monk
The
Monk family history was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives.
Over the centuries Surnames developed a wide number of variants. Different spellings of the same name can be traced back to an original root. Additionally when a bearer of a name emigrated it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books at their new location. Surnames were also often altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another.
Variants of the name Monk
include Monck, Monke, Munk and Le Moyne. Monk is an occupational name meaning 'the monk', from a person who had a religious calling. This name is usually of English descent and is found in many ancient manuscripts in that country. Examples of such are a Johannes Mounke and a Willemus Mounke who were recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire in the year 1379. A William le Monek was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273. A Peter le Monek was recorded in the 'Writs of Parliament' in the year 1300.
Names were recorded in these ancient documents to make it easier for their overlords to collect taxes and to keep records of the population at any given time. When the overlords acquired land by either force or gifts from their rulers, they created charters of ownership for themselves and their vassals. It was by creating, maintaining and updating these reference books that they were able to maintain their authority and enforce laws.
In Ireland the name Monk and Monks can be anglicized forms of the names Monaghan and McEvanny.
The Monk coat of arms came into existence centuries ago. The process of creating coats of arms (also often called family crests) began in the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this. The new art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own coat of arms, including all Monk descendants.