Clan Montgomery Crest
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CREST: Dexter, a lady dressed in ancient apparel Azure holding in her dexter hand an anchor and in her sinister the head of a savage couped suspended by the hair all Proper MOTTO: Garde bien TRANSLATION: Watch well VARIATIONS: Montgomerie |
| The origins of the name “Montgomery” remain shrouded in mystery, with theories tracing it to a hill and a Roman commander named Gomericus. The family held the Castle of Sainte Foy de Montgomery at Lisieux, marking their Norman heritage. The legendary Roger de Mundegumbrie, a kinsman of William the Conqueror, played a pivotal role in the conquest of England in 1066. Commanding the vanguard at the Battle of Hastings, he was handsomely rewarded with lands and titles, solidifying the Montgomery presence in England.
The first Montgomery to grace Scottish records was Robert, who acquired the lands of Eaglesham in Renfrewshire around 1165. Supposedly a grandson of Earl Roger, Robert’s connection to the Stewarts, particularly Walter Fitz-Alan, the first High Steward of Scotland, intertwined his fate with that of Scotland. This early association marked the beginning of the Montgomerys’ presence north of the border. |
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| The Montgomerys’ name became synonymous with valor on the battlefield. In the Battle of Otterburn in 1388, Sir John Montgomery of Ardrossan achieved legendary status by capturing the renowned Sir Henry Percy, known as Hotspur. The vivid retelling of their hand-to-hand combat has been immortalized in Borders ballads. The Percys’ ransom resulted in the construction of Polnoon Castle, a tribute to Montgomery’s triumph.
Through the years, the Montgomerys garnered titles and honors, with the culmination being the creation of the Earldom of Eglinton in 1507 or 1508. This marked the pinnacle of their ascendancy, though not without challenges. Feuds with rival clans and political conflicts, including the tumultuous events of the Reformation, shaped their narrative. The third Earl of Eglinton, Hugh Montgomery, embraced Catholicism staunchly and supported Mary, Queen of Scots, throughout her troubled reign. His loyalty led him to battlefields and imprisonment, as he resisted the forces that sought to undermine his beliefs. Despite trials and tribulations, he remained unwavering until his eventual acceptance of James VI. The Montgomery lineage thrived through generations, enduring trials, political shifts, and historical upheavals. The legacy continues to this day, with the current chief, the eighteenth Earl of Eglinton and ninth Earl of Winton, maintaining the ancestral heritage and connection to a storied past. |
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