Clan Montgomery

Clan Montgomery is a lowland Scottish clan originating in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The surname Montgomery is of Norman descent. Roger de Montgomery first arrived with William the Conqueror in 1066 and was granted lands in Wales which were then named Montgomeryshire. Roger’s grandson Robert, accompanied Walter FitzAlan, the progenitor of the Stewart Clan, to Scotland in the 12th century and were granted lands by King David I.

The clan motto is Garde Bien which translates into “Guard well”, and the clan’s crest features a lady, holding an anchor in the left hand and the head of a savage by the hair in the right hand.

The historic seat of the clan is Eglinton Castle located in Kilwinning, Scotland. The Montgomery clan acquired the property in the 14th century through marriage. In 1528 the original Eglinton Castle was burnt down during a feud with the Clan Cunningham in retaliation for the sacking of Kerelaw Castle by the Montgomery’s. The current castle was built in 1802 and served as the seat of the Montgomery’s until the early 20th century when it was abandoned due to financial difficulties. The castle was unroofed in 1925 and much of it was destroyed by the military in the 1950s when it was used for target practice. All that presently survives is a corner tower and some low walls.

The Clan Montgomery Society of North America was founded in March 1981 in Peidmont, California. The purpose of the society is to develop an educational organization designed to research study and promote Clan Montgomery and Scottish heritage. The Eglinton Castle is now run as a country park with a visitor center that shares information about the Montgomery Clan.

Further Reading:
Clan Feud – Montgomery vs. Cunningham