[8][9] The founder of the English family of Montagu was "Drogo de Montagud", as his name appeared in its Latinised form in the Domesday Book of 1086.

From his pattern of landholdings he appears to have been a knight or follower of Robert, Count of Mortain, the half-brother of King William the Conqueror.

[10] His principal landholdings were in the Hundred of Wincanton in Somerset, near Bruton Priory where some of the early family were buried.

His Domesday Book holdings included: Chenolle (Knowle) (in the Hundred of Wincanton), held in-chief from the crown.

[13] Grants of free warren were obtained for Knowle in 1314 and 1317 and a deer park was in existence in 1397, which in 1569 was a mile "in compass".

In this manor Robert, Count of Mortain "has his castle, which is called "Montagud" (Ipse Comes (Moriton) tenet in dominio Biscopestone et ibi est castellum eius quod vocatur Montagud[16][17] The summit of St Michael's Hill is situated 620 metres south-west of the present Montacute House.

It became known at some time before 1086 by the Latin name of Mons Acutus, meaning "Sharp Mountain", being referred to in the Domesday Book "Montagud".

[18] According to the Duchess of Cleveland (Battle Abbey Roll, 1889): "(Drogo de Montaigu) had come to England in the train of the Earl of Mortain, and received from him large grants of lands, with the custody of the castle, built either by the Earl or his son William, in the manor of Bishopston, and styled, from its position on a sharp-topped hill, Monte Acuto"[19] (sic, Mons Acutus).

Heraldry, or more properly Armory, is the short hand of History, its purpose was to identify persons and property and to record descent and alliance.

[27] Another prominent descendant of Peter was Bessie Wallis Warfield, who married Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor.

The transfer cannot be explained nor can the sudden rise in wealth, especially for the Winkfield branch who achieved the status of Gentleman prior to 1633.

For titles conferred on the Ladde "alias Montagu" family, descended from Sir Edward Montagu (1485–1557) of Boughton, Lord Chief Justice, see : For titles conferred on the family of Brudenell, Earl of Cardigan, descendants via a female line, who adopted the name and arms of Montagu, see : Title conferred on the family of Douglas-Scott-Montagu, descendants via a female line of the Brudenell-Montagu line : Title conferred on the line of Browne, maternal descendants who retook the name and arms of Montagu, see :