Show ContentsMoncrieff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Moncrieff Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Moncrieff

What does the name Moncrieff mean?

The Scottish name Moncrieff is a habitational name, taken on from Moncreiffe Hill near the Royal Burgh of Perth. The surname itself came from the name of the lands granted to Sir Matthew de Muncrefe by King Alexander II in 1248. It is claimed that Sir Matthew was a member of a cadet branch of a family desceded from Maldred, brother of King Duncan and a descendant of Niall of the Nine Hostages, King of Ireland, who lived circa 400 A.D. in Tara. Today, Moncreiffe Island, also known as Friarton Island divides the River Tay into two channels as it flows through Perth in Scotland.

Early Origins of the Moncrieff family

The surname Moncrieff was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, where William de Moncrefe and John de Moncref, rendered homage to King Edward I of England during the latter's brief conquest of Scotland in 1296. In that same year Thomas de Mouncref was taken as a Scots prisoner of war at Dunbar Castle. The estate of Easter Moncreiffe was gifted to a younger son of the family in 1312. 1

Early History of the Moncrieff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Moncrieff research. Another 325 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1488, 1626, 1685, 1776, 1811, 1829, 1851, 1874, 1895, 1906, 1919, 1948, 1957 and 1985 are included under the topic Early Moncrieff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Moncrieff Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Moncreiffe, Moncrieffe, Moncreif, Moncreiff, Moncreyfe and many more.

Early Notables of the Moncrieff family

  • Colonel Sir Alexander Moncrieff (1829-1906) who was born in Edinburgh...
  • A member of the Scottish military and a brilliant engineer, he is best known for the invention of the Moncrieff Pits and disappearing carriages for siege and fortress guns...

Moncrieff migration to the United States +



Moncrieff Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Moncrieff, aged 44, who settled in America, in 1895
Moncrieff Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Harry Moncrieff, aged 12, who immigrated to the United States from Glasgow, in 1901
  • Murri Moncrieff, aged 31, who landed in America from London, in 1904
  • Lady Evelyn Moncrieff, aged 46, who landed in America from Bridge of Earn-Scotland, in 1905
  • David Moncrieff, aged 34, who landed in America from Glasgow, in 1906
  • Robert Moncrieff, aged 24, who settled in America from Sterling, in 1906
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Moncrieff migration to Australia +

Moncrieff Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Stewart Moncrieff, (Moncrieffe), (b. 1795), aged 33, Scottish commissioned officer from Edinburgh who was convicted in India for 9 years for forgery, transported aboard the "Caroline" in 1828, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
  • Mr. David Moncrieff, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 10 years, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 25th June 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3

Moncrieff migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Moncrieff Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. P.R. Moncrieff, Scottish settler from Auchterarder travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 4
  • Mrs. Margaret Moncrieff, (b. 1844), aged 21, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 5
  • Mr. John Moncrieff, (b. 1851), aged 28, Scottish farm labourer, from Lanark travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Invercargill, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 28th August 1879 5
  • Mrs. Moncrieff, (b. 1851), aged 28, Scottish settler, from Lanark travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Invercargill, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 28th August 1879 5
  • Mr. John Moncrieff, (b. 1873), aged 6, Scottish settler, from Lanark travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Invercargill, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 28th August 1879 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Moncrieff (post 1700) +

  • Karen Moncrieff, American film director, best known as the writer and director of critically acclaimed films Blue Car and The Dead Girl
  • Alice Moncrieff (1881-1952), born Mary Alice Magee, an American contralto and voice teacher
  • Sidney A. Moncrieff (b. 1957), retired American professional basketball player
  • Robert Hope Moncrieff (1846-1927), Scottish author of children's fiction and of Black's Guides
  • Alexander Moncrieff FRSE (1870-1949), Lord Moncrieff, a Scottish lawyer and jurist, Senator of the College of Justice
  • Sir Alexander Moncrieff (1829-1906), Scottish soldier and engineer
  • William Thomas Moncrieff (1794-1857), English dramatist and author
  • Michael Moncrieff, Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the VFL during the 1970s and early 80s
  • John Robert Moncrieff (1899-1928), New Zealand aviator who vanished on 10 January 1928 while attempting the first trans-Tasman flight from Australia to New Zealand
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Flight 191
  • John Gillie Moncrieff (d. 1979), American passenger from Sacramento, California, USA, who was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 6

The Moncrieff 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: Sur esperance
Motto Translation: Upon hope.
  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caroline
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emily
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area

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