Monogramming

I love just about anything with my monogram on it.  Right after I got engaged, a dear friend of mine gave me a necklace & earring set with my married initials on them.  It is something I will keep forever.  Since then, I've acquired several items with my initials on it.  I got this make-up bag for Christmas and think its really cute.  But all this monogramming got me thinking - is monogramming a "southern" thing?  Quite honestly, I'd probably put my initials on everything if I could but do northerners do this too?  In a couple of my travels up north, I've never seen anyone carrying a purse or bag with their initials on it.  Is that because they don't want anyone to know who they are?  I don't know.... I'm just asking.  What do you think?  Is monogramming a "southern" thing?