 The name of Moor, was added to the name Monkton to distinguish it from Nun Monkton, which is over the other side of the River Nidd.The name "Monkton", which has been recorded variously as "Munechatun, Monketon super Moram, Munketun", and "Moore Monkton", means the "town of the monks".Historically, the village was in the Wapentake of Ainsty, which meant that it was in the West Riding of Yorkshire.