The first creation was in 1551 for Anne de Montmorency, Constable of France.

The dukedom was recreated in 1633 for his sister Charlotte-Marguerite de Montmorency and her husband, the Prince of Condé.

At that point, the Montmorency name was transferred to the dukedom of Beaufort (second creation), which had been conferred in 1688 on Charles François Frédéric de Montmorency-Luxembourg, Prince de Tingry.

However, Emperor Napoleon III extended the title of Duke of Montmorency in 1864 to Nicolas Raoul Adalbert de Talleyrand-Périgord, second son of the 3rd Duke of Talleyrand by his wife Anne Louise Charlotte de Montmorency, who was a sister of the 6th Duke of Montmorency.

The title was forfeited by the last duke upon execution, and returned to the royal domain.