Mountjoy Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Mountjoy Origin:

France

Origins of Mountjoy:

This most unusual surname is of French origin and is the Anglicization of a geographical name from Montjoie in La Manche Normandy, France. Although the first documentation is in the early 13th Century, it is quite similar that the name brought into Britain with the invasion of 1066. The origin is from the French “mont,” which means a mountain, with “joie,” which means joy. The following examples show the name improvement after 1219, Elias Muifoye in the year 1243 in Assize Rolls of Somerset, Robert de Mountgay, or Mungay in 13th Century in Lancashire, John Mountjoye in the year 1307 in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire), Katherine Mountjoy in the year 1593 in London. Other various spellings contain as Monjoy, and Mountioy(e). Among the early sample documentation in London is the wedding of William Mountjoy and Dorothy Seldive in July 1638 at St. Bololph, Bishopgate and the naming of Cardus Mountjoy in April 1701 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster.

Variations:

More common variations are: Montjoy, Montjoye, Mountjay, Mountjou, Montjo, Montjou, Montjay, Montoi, Mintjoy, Montjoe

England:

The surname Mountjoy first appeared in Devon where they held a family seat from very ancient times and given lands by Duke William of Normandy, their true King, for their great support at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD.

The very first recording spelling of the family was shown to be that of Gilbert de Montgoye, dated about 1219, in the “Assize Rolls of Yorkshire.” It was during the time of King Henry III who was known to be the “The Frenchman,” dated 1216 – 1272. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England.

Ireland:

Many of the people with surname Mountjoy had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Mountjoy landed in the United States in two different centuries respectively in the 17th, and 18th. Some of the people with the name Mountjoy who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included George Mountjoy, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1647. Benjamin Mountjoy, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1659. John Mountjoy, who landed in Maine in 1675. Edward Mountjoy, who landed in Virginia in 1695.

The following century saw more Mountjoy surnames arrive. Some of the people with the surname Mountjoy who arrived in the United States in the 18th century included Petition Mountjoy, who came to Virginia in 1716. George Mountjoy settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1768.

Australia:

Some of the individuals with the surname Mountjoy who landed in Australia in the 19th century included Charles Mountjoy, an English prisoner from Wilts, who shifted aboard the “Adelaide” in April 1855, settling in Western Australia.

New-Zealand:

Some of the population with the surname Mountjoy who arrived in New Zealand in the 19th century included John Mountjoy arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship “Blairgowrie” in 1875.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Mountjoy: United States 1,223; South Africa 968; England 436; Australia 247; Canada 178; Wales 79; New Zealand 50; Ireland 27; Scotland 20; Singapore 18

Notable People:

Richard L. “Dick” Mountjoy (January 1932–May 2015) was a Republican leader from Monrovia, California.

Doug Mountjoy was born in June in the year 1942. He is a discharged Welsh snooker player. He was a one of the world’s top 16 during the late 1970s and 1980s and won the Masters in 1977, the UK tournament in 1978 and the Irish Masters in 1979. He reached the 1981 World Championship final, where he lost to Steve Davis.

Eric Walter Mountjoy Ph.D. FRSC (1931–June 2010) was an award-winning Canadian geologist, who spent much of his job as a professor at McGill University. He was a leading expert on sedimentology, Devonian reefs, carbonate diagenesis, porosity evolution and the structure of the Rocky Mountains. His research has provided useful insight into the petroleum industry.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) Or, a castle sa. Crest—A demi sportsman firing his piece ppr.
2) (co. Devon). Barry nebulée of six or and sa.
3) Gu. three escutcheons or;
5) Ar. semee-de-lis gu.
6) Or, three bars wavy sa.
7) Barry wavy of six or and sa.