Montgomery History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Montgomery family name comes originally from a place name in Normandy, such as Saint Foi de Montgomery. The name made its way to Scotland with the Normans, where it became Mac Gumaraid, in Gaelic.

The name is “of territorial origin from the ancient casde of Sainte Foi de Montgomery in the diocese of Lisieux in Normandy. The name of this castle, enjoys a peculiar privilege above all others in Norman geography. Other spots in Normandy have given their names to Norman houses and these Norman houses have transferred these names to English castles and English towns and villages. But there is only one shire in Great Britain which has had the name of a Norman lordship impressed upon it forever.” 1

Early Origins of the Montgomery family

The surname Montgomery was first found in Renfrewshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rinn Friù), a historic county of Scotland, today encompassing the Council Areas of Renfrew, East Renfrewshire, and Iverclyde, in the Strathclyde region of southwestern Scotland, where they were granted lands by Malcolm Canmore, King of Scotland.

The manor of Eaglesham became the Clan seat of the family for many centuries. Looking further back, we found Roger de Montgomery (died 1093?), who came from the Castle of Sainte Foi de Montgomery, in Lissieux, Normandy, arrived in England with William the Conqueror. 2

Soon after the Battle of Hastings, Roger was granted lands on the Welsh Border in the County which later took his name, Montgomeryshire. “In reward for his services, he was created Earl of Arundel and Shrewsbury, and received manors in many counties. From him the town and shire of Montgomery, in Wales, derive their name.” 3

Roger’s grandson, Phillip de Montgomerie went to Scotland with Walter FizAlan, also of the Welsh border country, “settled in Scotland, where he received a grant of the lands of Eaglesham in Renfrewshire and died in 1140, was the ancestor of the Scottish family of Montgomery.” 4 Some claim he became high Steward of Scotland and was the progenitor of the great Stewart Clan.

Although Normandy has so far been established as the origin of this family, a family legend related in a poem places their origin earlier, perhaps, even to Roman times: “A noble Roman was the Root, from which Montgomeries came, Who brought his legions from the war, and settled the same. Upon a hill twixt Rome and Spain. Gomericus by name; from which he and his offspring do their sire name still retain.” 1