HISTORY OF THE MONKMAN NAME
Many variations of the name occur in records through history - Munkman, Monkeman, Munckman, etc., and numerous individuals during the 1600-1800's used different spellings during their lifetimes, but they are all related in some manner.
"The first recorded mention of the surname occurs in the Curia Regis Rolls, 1199, in Hampshire,England - Edward le Munkesman (obviously of Norman descent) is listed as being a bondsman, or bound serf of the Cistercian Abbey - and there is a John Monkeman mentioned in the "Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire" in 1276 as paying tithes and taxes to the parish." (from Andrew Monkman,Yorkshire)
The Historical Research Center Inc. has found record of a Robert Monkisman in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1179. They also mention a Henry and a William Munkeman in the Rotuli Hundredorum of 1273.
The Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland record a John Munkman as being granted a large tract of land by Edward III in 1332 for his service as a man-at-arms (a knight) in the Scottish Wars.
In 1357, a William Monkman, a Scottish seafarer, had his ship wrecked in a storm and plundered by locals in Bamburgh and Tynemouth.
Robertus Monckeman and Johannes Munkman (a barber) were listed in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379.
"Parish records go back to about 1560 when there were two Monkman brothers (William and Thomas) in a village called Hackness, near Scarborough in North Yorkshire. It would appear that we all come from this single source though I could be wrong here - I have as yet no information to the contrary.
Hackness is within about 30 miles of Fountains abbey (one of the largest in England at that time), Whitby abbey, Rosedale abbey, Yeddingham abbey and many more smaller cloisters - all burned by King Henry VIII's soldiers around 1530 when he established the Church of England and attempted to destroy the Catholic Church (all because he wanted a divorce!). Most of the monks and their servants/workers fled.
The name Monkman could mean a monk or a monks man (ie. non-ecclesiasticle monastry workers). Many of these would have been illiterate or with an obvious wish to withhold their real identity. In about 1548 Henry issued orders to have the 'Wappentakes' - the signing of a document to say you were not a papist (Catholic). Naturally everyone had to sign it which meant that from this time on everyone had to have a last name. This is in fact the starting point of many English surnames. In our case the name Monkman was given or assumed."
(from Prof. Gareth Monkman,Germany)
George Monk (1608-1670), 1st Duke of Albemarle, born in Potheridge, Devon, was the second son of Sir Thomas Monkman of a well-established family in the west of England. He became commander of a Scottish regiment (later to become the Goldstream Guards) formed in 1650 by Oliver Cromwell, fought in the Battle of Dunbar, and "completely and ruthlessly subjugated Scotland" at the head of an 8000 man army. After the death of Cromwell and dissolution of parliament in 1659, he actually invaded England with 10 regiments of the Scottish army and assisted in the recall of Charles II to the throne! Interesting fellow - wonder why he dropped the 'man' from the family name?
Monkman Crest
There are many registered coats-of-arms or family crests for Monk, but none for Monkman or Monckman as such. The correct form in a case like this is to use the origional coat-of-arms for the root family of the name. The earliest coat-of-arms was registered to the Monk family of Potheridge County, Devon in 1424. Maybe we'll get lucky and add you to the ever expanding MONKMAN Family Tree!
Monkman Pass (elev. 1,082 metres) and Monkman Lake, in British Columbia, Canada, were discovered by Alexander Monkman (1870-1941) in the winter of 1921-2 while on a trapping and hunting trip. The pass was seriously considered for a railway to the Peace River country of Alberta in 1925. The area is now set aside as MONKMAN PROVINCIAL PARK
This 32,000 ha (79,040 acre) wilderness park in British Columbia is located about 45 km (28 mi) south of Tumbler Ridge off Highway 29. Facilities include 42 forested campsites, picnic sites, and 22 km (14mi) of hiking trails. Monkman Provincial park is famous for the 200 foot high Kinuseo Falls, a breathtaking stretch of the Murray River. Through marriages, the family tree contains over 900 surnames other than MONKMAN. So, even though your name might be different, you could be part of the tree if any ancestor of yours had the MONKMAN name.