This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'de Montfort.' Lower, in his Patr. Brit, says that there are two places in Normandy called Montfort, one situated near Argenlan, the other near Pont-Audemer. The latter is a fortified town. (2) Local, 'of Montford,' a parish five miles from Shrewsbury, Salop.

Simon de Monteforte, Nottinghamshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Petronilla de Monteforti, Wiltshire, ibid.

Henry de Monteforti, Somerset, ibid.

Henry Mounfort, Somerset, t Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Reginald de Monte Forti, Somerset, 1 Edward III: ibid.

1586. John Mountford, Warwickshire: Register of the University of Oxford.

1602. Buried — John Mounford: St. Antholin.

1621. Married — Frederic Steward and Abigail Mondeford, of Mondeford, in Norfolk: St. Michael, Cornhill.

Probably from Montfort on the Rille near Brionne, department of Eure. William de Mountfort witnessed a confirmation charter by William the Lion at Munros (Montrose) between 1178-98 (RAA., I, 76), and also witnessed a charter by Turpin, bishop of Rrechin, within the same period (REB., II, 257). He appears again at the end of the century as de Munford and de Muntfort (LAC., 75). John de Muntfort witnessed a charter by Rodulph, bishop of Brechin, between 1198-1218 (RER., II, 258), and between 1211-14 he granted the lands of Glasker to the Abbey of Arnbroath (RAA., I, 67). William de Mountfort was parson of Kynef, c. 1211-14 (ibid., I, 70). John de Montford, lord of Elstanford, granted half a stone of wax annually to the Abbey of Neubode (Neubotle, p. 157), and Robertus de Munfort witnessed a gift of a stone of wax yearly to the church of Glasgow, a. 1233 (REG., p. 101). In 1252 John de Monteforti granted to Alexander de Monteforti, his brother, fifty acres of land in the territory of Elstaneford, called Dremmesfeld (Laing, 7). Alexander de Monteforti was sheriff of Elgin in 1266 (ER., I, p. 13, 33), Pieres de Montfort of Aberdeenshire, John de Montfort of Edinburghshire, and Robert de Montfort of Kincardineshire, rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 210,211), and Robert de Monteforti was rector of the church of Kynef, 1300 (RPSA., p. 120). A family of the name held land in the parish of Lonmay, Aberdeenshire, in the fourteenth century.

(Anglo-French-Latin) belonging to Montfort (France) = the Strong (Fortified) Hill [French mont, Latin mons, mont-is, a hill + French fort, Latin fort-is,strong] There is a Montfort-sur-Risle in the Eure Dept.

A parish in Shropshire.

From the Latin "De Monte Forte," that is, from the strong or fortified hill or mountain.

From M. sur Rille, Normandy, a great baronial family descended from Auslec or Oslac, Baron of Briquebec, c. 940 (See Mitford). Hugh Barbatus, Baron of Montfort, was slain in battle with Walchelin de Ferrars, c. 1035. The M.s, Barons of Beaudesert, descended from the house of De Gand paternally. The name spread to all parts of England. See Dugdale and Banks.

A location name in Salop.

In the 16th century the distinguished family of Mountford owned the manor of Aldrich (E.). The name is also represented in Herefordshire.