Munson
An English and Scottish surname that usually means “son of Mun,” a short form of a personal name such as Mungo or Munro.
The #2,030 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 17,399 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Munson is generally understood as a patronymic surname built from a short personal name, with the suffix -son meaning “son of.” In English and Scottish use, the first element is often taken to be Mun, a pet form linked by some writers to names such as Mungo or Munro, though the exact source is not fully certain. The name therefore most likely began as a hereditary label meaning “descendant of Mun.”
History
The surname appears in both English and Scottish naming traditions and later became established as a fixed family name. It is found in North America through immigration from Britain and, in some cases, through spelling stabilization of related forms. Modern bearers are especially common in the United States, where the name has remained moderately uncommon but well established.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Despite looking like a simple compound, Munson has a somewhat uncertain first element, which is why older surname books often treat it cautiously.
From the historical record
“Munroe, 445. Munsell, 445. Munson, 445. Munt, 461. Munzig, 445. Murad, 445. Murch, 445. Murdock, 445.”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)