Surname Monly - Meaning and Origin

Monly: What does the surname Monly mean?

The last name Monly is a rooted European surname believed to have originated in England. It can be derived from the place-name 'Mundelai', which is thought to be an Anglicization of the old Norse phrase, 'mund-hliðir', meaning 'land of many hills'. Alternatively, Monly may be a combination of the two Old Trangle names, Mund and Leake.

Monly could also be derived from the French name, Montly. The French connection is supported by the fact that some sources record it as 'Montlieu'. This could be a combination of 'Mon' (from a Latin word meaning 'mountain') and 'lieu' (meaning 'place').

The surname might also have been derived from an ornamental name, such as Montjoie, which meant 'Joy of the Mountains'. This name was also given to individuals who had played a role in some heroic endeavour, such as a battle.

Monly is also sometimes recorded with the prefix 'le'. This could have either meant 'the', or could have indicated that the name was originally a nickname for someone who was affectionate and gentle in nature.

The last name Monly is quite rare; however, it is thought to have been prevalent in some parts of England in the past. It can be found in records as far back as the 16th century. As its origin is uncertain, more research is necessary to determine the exact derivation of the Monly surname.

Monly: Where does the name Monly come from?

The last name Monly is most commonly found in English-speaking countries today, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom. Historically, Monly was an English surname, meaning either “a man from the moor” or “a man from the meadow.” It is found quite frequently in old British parish registers, with records ranging back to the 1600s.

In 1990, there were approximately 20,000 people with the last name Monly in the United States. Today, the name appears in the top 40,000 surnames in the United States, making it relatively uncommon. Monly is an uncommon but not rare surname – it's estimated that about 0.002% of Americans have this last name.

In the United Kingdom, Monly is found more commonly, with approximately 2,794 individuals with the name in England and Wales. The highest concentrations of Monly can be found in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cumbria.

The vast majority of individuals with the surname Monly are of English descent, although in some cases they might be descended from Irish immigrants who anglicized their name to Monly. As with many surnames, there may be other countries of origin and immigrant backgrounds associated with the last name. However, historically, Monly has largely been a British or English name.

Variations of the surname Monly

Monly is a variant spelling of the French surname Monleau, which is derived from the Latin term “moneta” which means “money” or “coin”. This surname is believed to have originated with an ancestor who was a coin-maker or a wealthy coin-owner, hence the meaning of the name.

Monly can also be spelled as Menleau, Manleau, Manley, Monley, Molley, Monlo, Manely, Monlou, Mounleau, Mounlo, Monloi, Manles, Monlez, Montles, Montleu, Montlez, Montloi, Monteau, Montez, Montlu, Montlui, Monlite, and Montlou.

Surnames that are related to Monly include: Manly, Mona, Monthou, Monthoul, Monrail, Montel, Monteil, Monneau, Monthel, Monthey, Monthenet, Montello, Montro, Monfort, Monfrere, Monty, Mounier, Monnier, Montoux, Mongeau, Montesano, Montesino, Montesanto, Montefusco, Montini, Monzini, Montagnac, Montaperti, Montevecchi, Montepulciano, Monzon, Montbleron, Montfaucon, Moncourt, Monceau, Moncel, and Moncey.

Famous people with the name Monly

• Robin Monly: Canadian singer-songwriter, best known from the folk-roots duo Madison Violet.
• Liz Monly: American artist, sculptor, and painter.
• Joe Monly: French singer-songwriter and actor, known for his roles in film and television.
• Kevin Monly: American actor, best known for his roles on the television sitcoms Home Improvement and That '70s Show.
• Tommy Monly: American drummer for the alternative rock band Third Eye Blind.
• Jennifer Monly: American actress, best known for her role as Charlene Montgomery in the NBC comedy series Taxi.
• Trish Monly: British model and actress, known for her appearances in films such as Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Death at a Funeral.
• Glenn Monly: English former professional footballer who played as a striker for Arsenal during the mid-1980s.
• Dallas Monly: British singer-songwriter and guitarist, and the lead vocalist of the punk rock band, The Damned.
• Piano Monly: Peruvian classical pianist, best known for her interpretations of the works of composers such as Bach, Chopin, and Mozart.

Other surnames

Monley