Feedback on Munro

LegacyUser

Dawne Munro said: The surname Munro is NOT a variant of Monroe. The opposite is true; Monroe is a variant or Munro. If you check any Scottish genealogy you will fine that is called Clan Munro NOT Clan Monroe. Other variants of Munro are: Monro, Munroe

LegacyUser

Paul said: I expect you have received this information in connection with a FamilySearch "campaign". The general idea of these is to generate interest in looking further into ones genealogy and is usually of more interest to less experienced researchers.

The origins of surnames has always been a contentious issue. Take your example: the page at https://www.thoughtco.com/munro-surna... says much the same as what you have been advised by FamilySearch. Perhaps it was even their source for the detail given to you!

However, many such suggestions should be either ignored, or compared with explanations provided on other websites / written material on the subject. It is always best to make such comparisons, then decide what seems the most plausible explanation. In the case of some names, the true origin is impossible to identify, so at least you have an advantage over others, who probably will never come close to discovering the roots of their family name.

LegacyUser

Dawne Munro said: My comment still stands. The Clan name is Munro; all other variations are just that...variations. And to be clear, I have received this information because I am a member of Clan Munro and have been to the Clan seat, Foulis castle, in Scotland and the Clan Munro museum near Ardulie. If you did your own research you would see that the current Clan Chief is Hector W. Munro (NOT Monroe/Monro/Munroe) and the heir is Finnian Munro (NOT Monroe/Monro/Munroe). So, I repeat Monroe is a variation of the true name Munro (as claimed by this website) and not the reverse.

LegacyUser

Tom Huber said: As Paul stated, this is likely part of a campaign and the source(s) used are not accurate. FamilySearch did not do its homework when it came to every surname that exists.

But Monroe also has an Irish origin. You issue applies to the Pict origin, not the Irish origin which refers to the River Roe in Ireland (not Ro).

The variants of the name are all over the place, which is common with most names. Many people were illiterate until the 20th century when government mandates started dictating consistent spelling and use. The mandates also occurred when Britain asked the inhabitants of the former Dutch colony to swear allegiance to the throne and no longer use patronymics before the revolution.

Regardless, you can always hope that someone in FamilySearch (and they do read every discussion thread) will go in and correct the origin statements accordingly. You may need to open a problem case.