Surname Munroe - Meaning and Origin

Munroe: What does the surname Munroe mean?

The surname Munroe is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic surname "Mac an Rothaich", meaning "son of the man from Ro". Ro is a place in the region of Ross in Scotland. The name was adopted by the chief of a Highland Scottish Clan. It was later anglicized to Monroe and then Munroe. The clan was known for their strength and bravery in battle. The term "Munroe" is also used in the Scottish Highlands to refer to mountains above 3000 feet. Notable individuals with this surname include President James Monroe and film icon Marilyn Monroe, contributing to its international recognition. However, it should be remembered that variations of this surname can have different origins and meanings in different cultures and languages.

Munroe: Where does the name Munroe come from?

The last name Munroe is most common today in Scotland, England, Canada, and the United States.

In Scotland, the surname is thought to be of French origin. It is believed that it first came to Scotland during the reign of King Robert the Bruce in the 14th century. It is particularly common in border counties such as Roxburghshire and Berwickshire.

In England, the surname is typically seen among those from East Anglia, particularly in Norfolk and Huntingdonshire. It is also found in the west country in Wiltshire and Devon.

In Canada, Munroe is especially common in the province of Nova Scotia, particularly in Cape Breton Island and the Former District of Guysborough. The surname is believed to have entered Canada through the United Empire Loyalists during or after the American Revolution.

In the United States, the name is especially common in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. It is believed to have been brought to the states by Scots-Irish immigrants in the early part of the 18th century.

Overall, the surname Munroe is found in many parts of the English-speaking world. It has a rich history in Scotland and in its former colonies of Canada and United States. Today it is most common in Scotland, England, Canada, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Munroe

Munroe is an anglicized form of the Scottish surname MacMurchaidh. Though the MacMurchaidh spelling has been largely overshadowed by Munroe, other variants including MacMurchy, MacMurphy, Monro, and Monroee can still be found in the records.

The surname is derived from the Gaelic ‘MacMurchaidh’, which means ‘son of Murchaidh’. Murchaidh is a personal given name deriving from the Irish elements ‘muir’, meaning ‘sea’, and ‘ceathach’, meaning ‘warrior’. Though not as common as Munroe, the Anglicized forms MacMurphy and Mac-Murphy are seen occasionally in records.

Variations in spelling of the name Munroe can include Munro, Murno, Murnoe, Munro, Monro, Monrose, and Monrow. Common alternate spellings of MacMurchaidh include MacMurchy, MacMurphy, and Murcaidh.

Munroe is a widely dispersed surname; it is especially popular in Scotland and the United States, where the number of people bearing the surname is abnormally high. It’s also commonly found in England, Ireland, Canada and Australia.

The motto of the Munroe family is ‘Dirige Domine’, which means ‘Direct me, Lord’. The arms of the Monroes is described as ‘A dexter cubit arm, in armour, holding in the hand a bend wavy, between two stars’. The crest consists of ‘A griffin rampant, with wings addorsed, holding in its dexter claw a star, in its sinister a crescent’.

Famous people with the name Munroe

• Marilyn Monroe: Former actress, model, and singer who became a major sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s.
• Monroe Carey: American television and film actor.
• Robert Munroe: American former professional boxer and former American Boxing Association middleweight champion.
• Molly Munroe: American stage actress.
• Jenny Munroe: Rapper and producer signed to Republic Records.
• Andrew Monroe: Television and film director.
• Daisy Munroe: British actress, known for her roles in Live from Studio Five and Soul Music.
• Ryan Munroe: British pop singer and songwriter.
• Jason Munroe: Australian actor who played Charlie in Pete's Dragon.
• Scotty Munroe: American folk singer and songwriter.
• Jermaine Munroe: American basketball player, most notably for the Harlem Globetrotters.
• Warren Munroe: American basketball player, most notable for his college life at Washington State University.
• Bruce Monroe: American pioneer aviator, who flew for the United States Army Air Corps during World War I.
• Donald Munroe: American lawyer and politician.
• Donna Munroe: Canadian author and historian.
• George Monroe: American scientific instrument maker and amateur astronomer.
• Ian Munroe: British musician and photographer.
• Joe Munroe: Canadian ice hockey player.
• Josh Munroe: Australian actor and model.
• Malcolm Munroe: African-American educator, civil rights activist, and author.

Other surnames

Munro