The Munro surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 6,918 people carried this name — #5,067 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 42,600 people counted. That is up 6% from 6,551 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the Munro surname

A Scottish surname from Scottish Gaelic, variant of Monroe.

From Scottish Gaelic

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Munro» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

39 people named Munro live in Switzerland.

They live in 7 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Vaud.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Vaud 14
Geneva 9
Lucerne 4
Aargau 3
Graubünden 3
Valais 3
Zug 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 31 people named Munro.

Most of them — 18 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 6 départements, most often Nord.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 18
Nord 6
Paris 3
Bouches-du-Rhône 1
Pas-de-Calais 1
Hauts-de-Seine 1
Guadeloupe 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

38 people named Munro is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 38

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland, 1880s

Munro was 13 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 769. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “North of Scotland, especially in Ross-shire.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 593 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Munro was recorded 262 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 68th most common name in those registers. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 457. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

In 1790, Munro was counted together with Munroe: 192 families in all.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,095 people lived in those households, 5.7 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: Munroe, MⁿRow, Monro, Monroe, Monrow, Munro, Munrow. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 63
New York 28
Rhode Island 22
North Carolina 21
Connecticut 15
Virginia 9
New Hampshire 8
South Carolina 7
Vermont 6
Pennsylvania 6
Maryland 6
Maine 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 254 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Munro in American newspapers,
1891–1925.

Newspaper page from The Colville Examiner carrying the name Munro
The Colville Examiner 1919-10-04
Newspaper page from The Telegraph-courier carrying the name Munro
The Telegraph-courier 1891-06-25
Newspaper page from The Wrangell Sentinel carrying the name Munro
The Wrangell Sentinel 1925-03-26

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 2,580 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Munro in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

229,879 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Munro. The most, 37,638, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Queensland, at 1.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 75,391
Victoria 63,412
Queensland 56,675
South Australia 14,044
Western Australia 9,907
Tasmania 8,635
ACT (Canberra) 1,349
Northern Territory 94

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Munro.

Who carried it

People named Munro,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Eleanor Catherine Mary Munro
    Eleanor Catherine Mary Munro d. 1919
  • George Colin Munro d. 1995 · mathematician
  • John Munro, 4th of Newmore d. 1749 · politician
  • John W. Munro d. 1902 · politician
  • Innes Munro d. 1827 · military officer
  • Innes Munro d. 1827 · military officer

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Munro,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,594 records

1,594 records of the Munro name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 540
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 363
  • Other U.S. records 691
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Ivan Hall Munro

    Born 1935; from Lexington, Kentucky. U.S. Army, infantry unit commander; died in an accident 1969 in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Abraham M. Munro

    Born 1898 in United Kingdom. Enlisted 1942 at New York City; office clerk. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1963, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record William W. Munro

    Born 1907 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1944 at Fort Devens; filling station attendant. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Massachusetts.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 1,594 records for Munro in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain).

Australia4,653 records

4,653 records of the Munro name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 2,288
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 877
  • Other Australian records 1,488
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Isabella Munro

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Aurora, sailing from London in 1851. Native of Campbeltown, Argyllshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1855. Married 1855 in Richmond, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Murdoch Munro

    Died 1892 in New Norfolk, Tasmania, aged 62. Will registered in Tasmania in 1892.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Isabella Munro

    Arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Sea, aged 24; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 4,653 records for Munro in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada2,296 records

2,296 records of the Munro name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 1,939
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 127
  • Other Canadian records 230
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Hector Munro

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Lady's Adventure, bound for St. Johns, aged 23.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Donald Munro

    Came to Ontario in 1880 aboard the Waldensian, landing at Quebec, bound for Harriston, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Rhodina Munro

    Buried in 1979 at Union Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 81.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 2,296 records for Munro in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom357 records

357 records of the Munro name in the United Kingdom
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 157
  • Stirling Council burial records 115
  • Other British records 85
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record George Munro

    Born 1894 at Forres. Died 1918. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918 (Royal Sussex Regiment).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain); National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record George Munro

    Born 1878 at Speymouth; gold mine manager. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Annie Munro

    Buried in 1936 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 49.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 357 records for Munro in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand134 records

134 records of the Munro name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 109
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 10
  • Other New Zealand records 15
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jack Munro

    Buried in 1970 at Akaroa Dissenters Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury, aged 71.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Isabella Ogilvy Munro

    Died 1903, aged 75; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Hannah Helen Munro

    Buried in 1984 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 84.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 134 records for Munro in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands87 records

87 records of the Munro name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 38
  • Dutch population registers 32
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 17
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Andrew Brandlij Munro

    Married in 1854 in Groningen; minister, born 1826 in Rotterdam. Died 1863 in Blokzijl, aged 36.

    Open Archives, Groninger Archieven (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel locatie Zwolle (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Maria Johanna Munro

    Born 1861 in Blokzijl. Married in 1880 in Denekamp. Died 1913 in Nijmegen, aged 51.

    Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel locatie Zwolle (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Anthonetta Helena Wilhelmina Munro

    Born 1857 in Blokzijl. Married in 1880 in Groningen. Died 1935 in Nijmegen, aged 78.

    Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel locatie Zwolle (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Groninger Archieven (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 87 records for Munro in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France6 records

6 records of the Munro name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Yvan Henri Munro

    Born 1923 in Neuilly-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine); died 1994 in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marie Simonne Munro

    Born 1896 in Paris; died 1984 in La Tronche (Isère).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 6 records for Munro in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Ireland1 record

1 record of the Munro name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Bridie Munro

    Died 1987; buried at Dunmore, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Munro.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Munro is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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