A monk is a shoe with no lacing closed by a buckle and strap. Also, know as a monk strap. The double monk strap shoe found great popularity in Europe in the late 1800s. Monk shoes got their name from monks who wore this style, which resulted in the naming of the shoe. Monks were worn for the additional level of protection they offered compared to thesandalsthey normally wore. The durability of these shoes made them the top choice for monks as their signature work shoe.