09-05-2025
The History Of Monograms And How They Became So Beloved By Southerners
If you are Southern, you probably love monograms. Period. Full stop.
If you don't, you've almost certainly never uttered those words aloud, except maybe to a trusted few confidants. Singing from the rooftops that you don't love monograms—our favorite regional pastime of slapping personalization on ephemera from hand towels to headbands—would get you run out of town.
But how did we get here? And why?
Our experts, mother-daughter team Pam Shuler and Carolyn Bettin, help explain just how our obsession with monograms arose, and why it's so fun to just about every Shuler and Carolyn Bettin of Shuler StudioRelated: 5 Things You Should Never Monogram—And 3 Things You Should
The etymology of "monogram" is Latin, and it literally translates to "single letter." It was aptly named: The first records we have of monograms come from coins that were emblazoned with the king or conqueror's initials. King Henry VIII used his monogram on coins, decrees, and even doors.
During the Middle Ages, artisans began marking their work with initials to show the bespoke or one-of-a-kind nature of the pieces they sold.
Three-letter monograms, as we know them today, gained popularity in the 18th century. And by the Victorian era, we were off to the races engraving and personalizing any and everything from silverware to luggage to handkerchiefs.
Every Southern bride knows that choosing the lettering for an invitation is an important part of setting the tone for your big day, but lately, there's an added element of personalization: the couple's monogram. "Nowadays, you see monograms used on invitations suites, guest books, ring boxes, ice luges, and even projected onto dance floors," says Shuler.
In the more everyday realm, many Southerners use monograms in and around their home to add a touch of personalization and care. Bed linens, guest towels, and even apparel (think: men's French cuffs, monogrammed with a single letter or a set of three initials). But it extends all over—car stickers, toiletry cases, luggage, dog collars, children's clothing—the list truly goes on and on.
Typically, female monograms are done in the three-letter style: a larger centered surname initial, flanked by a smaller first initial on the left and a maiden or middle initial on the right. For men, a "straight line" monogram is traditional, with all three letters in name order and rendered in the same size.
For an opposite-sex couple getting married and using the same last name, it used to be traditional to feature the man's initial first, followed by the shared married name, and then the woman's first initial on the right. However, HRH's William and Catherine shook things up with they featured Catherine's initial first, giving way to a wave of "ladies first" monograms, which feature the bride's initial in the left-hand spot.
There are as many ways to arrange a monogram as there are ways to skin a cat, so fret not—if you're a double name girl like me, for example, and use all four names in your monogram, there's even a design style for us! "Being in the South, we have lots of customers with double names, and even have had a couple who both had double first names. What a fun wedding monogram to do!" says Shuler.
Related: How To Monogram The Right Way For Any Style Of Name"Monograms are especially popular in the South because they're such a classic symbol of tradition, family, and personal pride—three things that Southern culture holds near and dear. Southern hospitality is all about making people feel welcome and special, and a monogram adds a personal touch, whether it's on a gift, a towel, or a wedding invitation."It's simple, says Shuler: "Monograms are especially popular in the South because they're such a classic symbol of tradition, family, and personal pride—three things that Southern culture holds near and dear. Southern hospitality is all about making people feel welcome and special, and a monogram adds a personal touch, whether it's on a gift, a towel, or a wedding invitation." It's true: Taking the extra step to monogram a gift for someone shows them you went out of your way to think of them, and that this gift is just for them, not something pulled out of a drawer and stuck into a gift bag."There isn't much that's more Southern than carrying on a tradition started by a member of your family."It also creates an instant heirloom, especially when added to a timeless, evergreen piece like a silver jewelry box, the back of a watch, or the leather strap of a quality suitcase or briefcase. I have a silver cup with my grandmother's initial, "D" for "Donna," sitting on a nearby table as I type this, and I look at it every day. It used to live in her home, and now it lives in mine, and there isn't much that's more Southern than carrying on a tradition started by a member of your family. Carrying or owning something once owned by a special relative and seeing those initials regularly elevates the mundane and allows a bit of elegance into our modern lives. That's certainly true for Shuler, who started Shuler Studio under the tutelage of her own mother (who monogrammed everything from sweaters to telephone book covers), and has now passed the tradition to her daughter.
And while, sure, lots of other regions do monograms, I'm a bit biased: I think we Southerners do it best.
An extra thanks to Pam and Carolyn for not only serving as our expert vendors, but also for providing so much fascinating research for this piece!
Read the original article on Southern Living
