Septs of Clan Montgomery
Montgomery (and Variants: Montgomerie, Mongomery, Montgomry)
Surname Origin & Association: The name Montgomery originates from the Norman place name Mont Gomerie in Calvados, Normandy. The surname was brought to Britain by the Normans and became established in Scotland in the 12th century. Variants such as Montgomerie were common in historical records.
Historical Context: Clan Montgomery traces its origin to Robert de Montgomerie, who settled in Renfrewshire under Walter FitzAlan, the first High Steward of Scotland. The family was granted the lands of Eaglesham and later became Earls of Eglinton. The clan rose to prominence through loyalty to the Scottish crown and involvement in national politics.
Eglinton
Surname Origin & Association: Derived from the barony of Eglinton in Ayrshire, closely tied to the Montgomerie family.
Historical Context: The Montgomeries were styled “of Eglinton” after acquiring the lands. The family was granted the title Earl of Eglinton in 1507. Some descendants and cadet branches adopted Eglinton as a surname, linking them directly to the clan’s chief line.
Surname Origin & Association: A locational surname from the lands of Carmichael in Lanarkshire. Although it is also associated with its own clan, some Carmichael families historically allied with the Montgomeries.
Historical Context: During the clan conflicts and shifting alliances of the late medieval period, several Carmichael families in southwest Scotland came under the influence of Clan Montgomery, particularly in Ayrshire.
Gomerie (and Variants: Gomer, Gomery)
Surname Origin & Association: A simplified and phonetic variation of Montgomery, derived from the latter portion of the name.
Historical Context: In early records, especially in rural regions or among emigrants, shortened versions like Gomer or Gomery became fixed surnames. These families often descended from Montgomerys who had moved into English-speaking areas or abroad.
Mungomerie (and Variant: Mungomery)
Surname Origin & Association: Archaic and dialectal forms of Montgomery, typically found in Scots-language records.
Historical Context: Spellings like Mungomerie appeared in older parish records in Ayrshire and Galloway. These forms often arose due to phonetic spelling by local scribes. Despite the different spelling, they denote the same clan origin.
References (APA)
Black, G. F. (1946). The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library.
Way, G. of Plean, & Squire, R. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. Glasgow: HarperCollins.
Clan Montgomery Society International. (n.d.). History of Clan Montgomery. Retrieved from https://www.clanmontgomery.org
ScotClans. (n.d.). Clan Montgomery Profile. Retrieved from https://www.scotclans.com
Forebears.io. (n.d.). Surname Database: Montgomery. Retrieved from https://forebears.io