Moniz
A Portuguese and Galician surname, likely a patronymic form tied to a personal name such as Mono or Monio.
The #5,958 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 53,462 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Moniz is generally treated as an Iberian patronymic surname. It is commonly explained as meaning “son of Monio” or “son of Mono,” with the ending -iz functioning as an old patronymic marker in medieval Iberian names. The exact personal-name base is not fully secure, so older explanations can be a little tentative.
History
The surname is well established in Portugal and Galicia, and it later spread through Portuguese-speaking migration. It is historically notable in Portugal, where it appears in medieval and early modern records. Today it is found especially in Portuguese-descended communities, including in Brazil, the United States, and former Portuguese colonial regions.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Moniz is the surname of Egas Moniz, a famous Portuguese figure from medieval legend, which helped keep the name visible in historical memory.
From the historical record
“nyo^ MuniOf Moneo, Moño, Monnito, Muninus, Munhi, Moiviino, Moñino, Muniz , Muiniz, Mu- ñiz, Moniz, Moognüz, Monniez, Moniíiz , Mo- neoz , Monioz , Moinoz , Munnioz, Munyos, Muñez, Munneiz, Muñoz, Mununiz, Munniniz, Monni- nis, Muninez, Moninez, Municonis, Munionis, Moñones, Monuci , Mu/nsso, Monísso, Monicio…”
— Ensayo histórico etimológico filológico sobre los apellidos castellanos