German (mainly Münster) and Dutch (also Van Munster): habitational name from any of the places called Münster (in Germany) or Munster derived from Latin monasterium 'monastery' or a topographic name for someone living near a monastery. Irish: variant (translation into English) of Moynihan .

Münster (German: [ˈmʏnstɐ]; Westphalian: Mönster) is an independent city (Kreisfreie Stadt) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region.

Münster (Muenster) is famous for its bike-friendly streets, prestigious university, and cultural importance. This major city of northwest Germany is home to over 30 museums dedicated to a broad range of topics, from art and science to history and technology. Münster Old Town is a great place to explore.

In 1535 Münster was captured by an army of Catholics and Protestants, and in 1536 the Anabaptists' “king,” John of Leiden (Jan Beuckelson), was executed with two of his accomplices; the iron cages in which their bodies were publicly exhibited still hang in the Gothic tower of St. Lambert's Church.