Monsees History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

The name Monsees was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Monsees family lived in Sussex. The name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Monceaux, Normandy.

Early Origins of the Monsees family

The surname Monsees was first found in Sussex where they held a family seat as lords of the manor of Herstmonceux. They were descended from the ancient Lords of Maers and Monceaux, Counts of Nevers in Normandy. They were granted lands in Sussex and those branches, retaining the name Monceaux became the Lords of Monson, the Viscounts Castlemaine, and the Lords Sondes.

Another branch moved north into Cumberland soon after the Conquest: Hammond Monceaux was Sheriff of Cumberland in 1290, and it is there that the Mounsey branch is thought to have arisen.

About this time, Walter de Muncy, 1st Baron Muncy (d. c. 1309), was summoned to Parliament and was accordingly granted a peerage on 6 February 1299. This gentleman may be the same person referenced at Thornton in the West Riding of Yorkshire in early times. "This place in the reign of Edward I. belonged to Walter de Muncey, who obtained from that monarch the grant of a weekly market, and a fair on the festival of St. Thomas the Martyr and four following days." ^[1]

Important Dates for the Monsees family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Monsees research. Another 134 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1377, 1291, 1296, 1395 and 1686 are included under the topic Early Monsees History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Monsees 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 Monsees have been found, including Mounsey, Mounsie, Mouncie, Mouncey, Mouncy, Muncey, Muncie, Mounceaus, Monceaux, Monceux, Monse and many more.

Early Notables of the Monsees family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Monsees Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Monsees 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 Monsees were among those contributors:

Monsees Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Johanne Henrike Monsees, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 ^[2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Monsees (post 1700)

• Zac Monsees, American water polo player from California in the 2007 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship
• James Monsees, American co-founder of PAX Labs, an electronic cigarette company in 2007

Citations

1. ^ Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
2. ^ 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)