Montigue History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  France 
  Ireland 


Montigue is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Montigue family lived in Somerset. The name, however, derives from the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Montaigu-Les-Bois in Coutance, Normandy. 1

"The Christian name of the distinguished soldier was Drogo, denominated 'de Montagu,' from a town in Normandy. In Domesday Book, he is styled Drogo de Montacuto." 2

Early Origins of the Montigue family

The surname Montigue was first found in Somerset. In the Domesday Book Drogo de Montacuto held lands under Robert, Earl of Morton and was one of the companions of the Conqueror in his quest to conquer England. As half-brother of the Conqueror, "this Drogo fixed his chief residence at the castle of Shipton-Montacute, co, Somerset. " 2

Simon de Montacute, Lord of Shipton-Montacute was a strong warrior during the reign of Edward I, "a right valiant cheiftaine." "From this renowned soldier descended the illustrious race of Montague, conspicuous in all the great achievements of English history. " The parish of Montacute in Somerset holds a special significance to the family's lineage. "This place, in the time of the Saxons, was called Logaresburch, which is said to have been changed for its present name by William, Earl of Morton, who soon after the Conquest built a strong castle here, on the sharp point of a hill. " 3

Early History of the Montigue family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Montigue research. Another 192 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1086, 1350, 1400, 1428, 1485, 1530, 1557, 1559, 1563, 1602, 1603, 1616, 1636, 1642, 1644, 1661, 1665, 1671, 1677, 1678, 1684, 1715, 1761, 1793 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Montigue History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Montigue Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Montague, Montagu, Montegue, Montacute and others.

Early Notables of the Montigue family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Montacute, (1350-1400), 3rd Earl of Salisbury and 5th and 2nd Baron Montacute, English nobleman, one of the few who remained loyal to Richard II after Henry IV became king; James Montagu, Bishop of Bath; Sir Edward Montagu (ca. 1485-1557), an English lawyer and judge; Sir Edward Montagu (ca. 1530-1602), an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1559; Edward Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton (1563-1644), an English politician; Sir Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester (ca.1563-1642), an English...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Montigue Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Montigue family to Ireland

Some of the Montigue family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Migration of the Montigue family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Montigue or a variant listed above: Thomas Montague settled in Virginia in 1690; Richard Montague settled in Boston in 1634; E. Montague settled in New York in 1822; Neil, Benjamin and Thomas Montegue all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..



The Montigue Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Equitas actionum regula
Motto Translation: Let equity be the rule of our actions.





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