This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Muntjoy.' Lower writes, 'the French Mont-joie, which Cotgrave defines as "a barrow, a little hill, or heap of stones, layed in or neare a highway for the better discerning thereof, or in remembrance of some notable act performed, or accident befallen in that place."... According to Sir John Maundeville, an eminence near Jerusalem was formerly so called, because it "gevethe joy to pylgrymes hertes because that there men seen first Jerusalem "': Patronymica Britannica.

Ralph de Munjay, alias de Munjoie, alias de Munjau, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Ralph de Muntjoye, Derbyshire, 20 Edward.

Serl de Muntjoye, Derbyshire, ibid.

Mention is made of the Canonici et Fees de Monte Jovis, Essex, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

1586. Edward Wilberfosse and Ann Monioye, alias Mountioye (Essex): Marriage Lic (London).

1610. John Montjoy and Ann Blackwood: ibid.

1699. Married — Edmund Mountjoy and Mary Mannaton: St. James, Clerkenwell.

(Anglo-French-Latin) belonging to Montjoie (Normandy) = a Cairn or Monumental Heap [French mont, Latin mons, mont-is + French joie, Latin gaudi-a, pl. of gaudi-um, joy] Montjoie, for Montjoie-Saint-Denis, was an ancient war-cry of the French, from the hillock near Paris where St. Denis suffered martyrdom.

There are two places called Montjoie in the Manche Dept.

French Mont-joie, which Cotgrave defines as "a barrow, a little hill, or heape of stones, layed in or neare a highway for the better discerning thereof, or in remembrance of some notable act performed, or accident befallen in that place; also a goale to run at; also (metaphorically) any heap." A famous French war-cry in the middle ages was "Mont-joie St. Denis!" and Montjoye is the title of the chief herald of France, corresponding to our Garter. Both the war-cry and the heraldic title doubtless refer to some victory which was commemorated by the casting up of a mound of earth or a great heap of stones-a practice of the highest antiquity. A district of the parish of Battel, the scene of the Norman Conquest, is still known by the name of Mountjoy. According to Sir John Maundeville an eminence near Jerusalem was formerly so called, because "it geve the joy to pilgrymes hertes, because that there men seen first Jerusalem ... a full fair place and a delicyous." In charters the name was written indifferently De Monte Gaudii, and De Monte Jovis.

A name adopted probably by one of the crusaders, from a place near Jerusalem, which, according to Sir John Mandeville, "men clepen Mount—Joye, for it gevethe joye to pilgrymes hertes, be cause that there men seen first Jerusalem * * * a full fair place, and a dehcyous."

Lower says, "Some religious houses in England had their Mountjoys, a name given to eminences where the first view of the sacred edifice was to be obtained. This name is still retained in a division of the hundred of Battel, not far from the remains of the majestic pile reared by William the Conqueror. Boyer defines 'Mont—joie' as a heap of stones made by a French army, as a monument of victory."

From the Isle of France. Paganus de Monte Gaii occurs in Normandy 1097 (Ord. Vit. 766). William de Montegai witnessed a charter of Pontefract (Mon. i. 657). The family was seated in Notts and Derby.