Find out how popular the last name Monroe is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Monroe.

Monroe, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Monroe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Monroe in America

Monroe is the 617th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Monroe surname appeared 55,136 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 19 people would have the surname Monroe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Monroe to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Monroe

The surname Monroe is believed to have originated in Scotland, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "muinnor," which means "ancestor" or "from the protector." The name may also be connected to the ancient Scottish clan of Munro or Monro.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Monroe can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century. These rolls were administrative records maintained by the Scottish Exchequer, and they mention individuals with the name Monroe or variations of it, such as Monro or Munro.

The name Monroe has been associated with various historical figures throughout the centuries. One notable example is Robert Monroe, a Scottish soldier and diplomat who lived in the 16th century and served as a colonel in the Swedish army. He was born around 1558 and played a crucial role in the Thirty Years' War.

Another prominent figure with the surname Monroe was James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States. He was born on April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and served as president from 1817 to 1825. His administration is notable for the adoption of the Monroe Doctrine, which became a cornerstone of American foreign policy.

In the realm of literature, the name Monroe is associated with Marilyn Monroe, the iconic American actress, model, and singer. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, she adopted the stage name Marilyn Monroe and became one of the most celebrated and enduring cultural icons of the 20th century.

The surname Monroe has also been linked to various place names, such as Monroe County in several states, including Florida, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Some of these place names may have been derived from the surname itself or influenced by individuals with the name Monroe.

Other notable individuals with the surname Monroe include Harriet Monroe, an American editor and poet born in 1860, who founded the influential literary magazine "Poetry." There is also Bill Monroe, an American musician and singer-songwriter born in 1911, who is considered the father of bluegrass music.

While the surname Monroe has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world and continues to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Monroe

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Monroe.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Monroe was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Monroe has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Monroe was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Monroe, please contact us.

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