Show ContentsMonson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

We must look to France for the early origins of the name Monson for it is here that the name was derived from Monceaux, who was descended from the ancient lords of Maers and Monceaux, Counts of Nevers. The Count of Nevers (c. 990) had a son named Landric of Nevers who was grandfather of William de Monson who is mentioned by Wace in 1066. This same person appears as William de Moncellis in the Exeter Domesday and as William de Nevers in Norfolk in 1086. 1

Early Origins of the Monson family

The surname Monson was first found in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire where the aforementioned William's descendants settled. The ancestry of this distinguished Norman name can be traced to Carleton, Lincolnshire when they were Lords of the manor Antecedent to 1200. Thomas de Monceaux (d. 1345) seized the manors of Killingholm and Keleby. His son, Sir John de Monceaux (or Monson) (d. 1363) seized Burton, all in the Lincolnshire. 2

Early History of the Monson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Monson research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1565, 1569, 1597, 1598, 1599, 1601, 1604, 1611, 1614, 1625, 1626, 1628, 1641, 1643, 1653, 1660, 1672, 1674, 1675, 1683, 1689 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Monson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Monson Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Monson, Munson, Mounson and others.

Early Notables of the Monson family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Sir John Monson of South Carlton, Lincolnshire
  • Sir William Monson (1569-1643), an English admiral and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1601 and 1626
  • William Monson, 1st Viscount Monson (died ca.1672), one of the Regicides of King Charles I of England
  • Sir John Monson, 2nd Baronet (1599-1683), an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1625 and 1626
  • John Monson (c. 1628-1674), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1660 and 1674

Monson Ranking

In the United States, the name Monson is the 3,460th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 3


Monson migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Monson or a variant listed above:

Monson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Monson, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 4
Monson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Monson, aged 33, who landed in New York in 1812 4
  • Charles, George, and James Monson all, who arrived in New York in 1845
  • Carl Monson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 4
  • R Monson, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1855 4
  • Anders Monson, who landed in Arkansas in 1880 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Monson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ole August Monson, who landed in Wisconsin in 1913 4

Monson migration to Australia +

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

Monson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Daniel Monson, (b. 1819), aged 23, British Convict who was convicted in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada for 10 years for desertion from the army, transported aboard the "Candahar" on 26th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1885 5
  • William Henry Monson, aged 28, a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Amazon"

Monson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Monson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Henry Monson (1793-1866), an English carpenter, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "John Wickliffe" in 1848, a founding settler in Dunedin 6
  • William Henry Monson, aged 22, a carpenter, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "John Wickliffe" in 1848 6
  • John Robert Monson, aged 19, a carpenter, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "John Wickliffe" in 1848 6
  • Mr. Monson, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "John Wickliffe" arriving in Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on 23rd March 1848 6
  • Mr. John Monson, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "John Wickliffe" arriving in Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on 23rd March 1848 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Monson (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Spencer Monson (1927-2018), American religious leader, author, and the 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
  • Earl Merrill Monson (1932-2017), American Mormon elder, Second Quorum of the Seventy (1998–2002)
  • Marianne Monson (b. 1975), American children's author
  • David Smith Monson (b. 1945), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah (1985-1987), 2nd Lieutenant Governor of Utah (1977-1985)
  • Ander Monson, American novelist, poet, and nonfiction writer, awarded the 2007 John C. Zacharis First Book Award
  • Byron Monson, American Sociologist
  • Martin O. Monson, American Republican politician, Elected Wisconsin State Assembly from Lafayette County 1948 7
  • M. H. Monson, American politician, Member of South Dakota State Senate 21st District, 1939-40 7
  • Joseph Monson, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Utah, 1904 7
  • E. E. Monson, American politician, Secretary of State of Utah, 1944 7
  • ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Monson 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: Prest pour mon pais
Motto Translation: Ready for my country.


Suggested Readings for the name Monson +

  • A Genealogy of Richard Woodworth, 1758-Ireland-1843 Ohio by Marie Monson.

  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/candahar
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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