Montagu History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

The ancestors of the Montagu family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They 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 Montagu family

The surname Montagu 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 Montagu family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Montagu 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 Montagu History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Montagu Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Montagu were recorded, including Montague, Montagu, Montegue, Montacute and others.

Early Notables of the Montagu family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

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 judge, politician and peer
Walter Montagu (c.1603-1677), an English courtier, secret agent and Benedictine abbot
Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester KG, KB, FRS (1602-1671), Commander of Parliamentary forces in the First English Civil War
Edward Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Boughton (1616-1684), an English peer and politician
Edward Montagu (ca.1636-1665), an English politician, courtier and naval officer, Member of Parliament for Sandwich, Kent
Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, KG, PC, FRS, PRS (1661-1715), an English poet and statesman and Sir Edward Wortley Montagu (1678-1761), British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire

Migration of the Montagu family to Ireland

Some of the Montagu 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.

Montagu migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Montagu Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Sarah Montagu, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Stebonheath" in 1849 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Montagu (post 1700) +

Goerge Montagu (1753-1815), English officer and naturalist, known for his Ornithological Dictionary of 1802, one of the first authorities on Britain's birds, numerous birds are named after him including Montagu's harrier
Ashley Francis Ashley- Montagu (b. 1905), born Israel Ehrenberg, A British anthropologist; the American Humanist Association named him the Humanist of the Year in 1995
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689-1762), English aristocrat, letter writer and poet, best remembered for her letters from travels to the Ottoman Empire
Elizabeth Montagu (1720-1800), English social reformer, patron of the arts, salonist, literary critic, and writer who was one of the founders and leaders of the Blue Stockings Society
Charles Edgar Samuel Montagu (b. 1954), 5th Baron Swaythling, English peer
Edward John Barrington Douglas-Scott- Montagu (1926-2015), 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, an English Conservative politician, best known for founding the National Motor Museum
Edward Wortley Montagu (1713-1776), English author and traveller
Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Montagu KB (b. 1777), British Army officer, Colonel of the 61st Regiment of Foot (1755-1760), Colonel of the 2nd (Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot (1760-1777)
Lord Robert Montagu PC (1825-1902), British Conservative politician, Vice-President of the Committee on Education (1867-1868)
Samuel Montagu (1832-1911), 1st Baron Swaythling, a British banker who founded the bank of Samuel Montagu & Co

The Montagu 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.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEBONHEATH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Stebonheath.htm