Show ContentsMonkhouse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Monkhouse was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Monkhouse family lived in Northumberland. Monkhouse is one of several names that find their roots in the Anglo-Saxon terms munec, meaning monk, and hus, meaning house. It may be either local or occupational in origin, signifying worker at the monk's house in some instances and dweller at the monk's house in others. The surname may have also been used to identify one who hailed from any of several places in England called Monkhouse. In some cases the name may also be an Anglicized version of the Norman local surname Monceaux.

Early Origins of the Monkhouse family

The surname Monkhouse was first found in Northumberland where the "surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the monk-house,' i.e. the house where the monk or monks resided." 1 2.

One of the first records of the family was found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379: Rogerus del Munkhous. Later the Wills at Chester listed Thomas Munkas, of Chorlton, Manchester in 1660. 1

Early History of the Monkhouse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Monkhouse research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1290 is included under the topic Early Monkhouse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Monkhouse Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Monkhouse have been found, including Monkhouse, Monckhouse, Monkhowse and others.

Early Notables of the Monkhouse family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Monkhouse of Northumberland


United States Monkhouse migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Monkhouse were among those contributors:

Monkhouse Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jane Monkhouse, who arrived in Virginia in 1765
Monkhouse Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Wm. Monkhouse, who settled in Philadelphia in 1805
  • James Monkhouse, who settled in San Francisco in 1851
  • James Monkhouse, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 3

Australia Monkhouse migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Monkhouse Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Monkhouse, (b. 1797), aged 23, English baker who was convicted in London, England for life for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 6th April 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1874 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Monkhouse (post 1700) +

  • Steven Monkhouse (b. 1962), English former cricketer who played from 1989 to 1986
  • Graham Monkhouse (b. 1954), former English cricketer who played from 1987 to 1979
  • Amy Monkhouse (b. 1979), English gold medalist lawn bowler at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
  • Alan Thompson William Monkhouse (1930-1992), English footballer who played from 1949 to 1957
  • Robert Alan "Bob" Monkhouse OBE (1928-2003), English comedian and game show host of more than 30 different games shows, received a Lifetime Achievement for Comedy in 1995
  • Andrew William "Andy" Monkhouse (b. 1980), English professional footballer
  • Allan Noble Monkhouse (1858-1936), English playwright and critic
  • Michelle Kathleen Monkhouse (1991-2011), Canadian aspiring fashion model, a Ford Model who was tragically killed in a road accident at the age of 19
  • William Cosmo Monkhouse (1840-1901), Canadian man of letters, poet, art and literature critic


The Monkhouse Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Monachus Salvabor
Motto Translation: A monk (house) shall be saved.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent


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