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Clan Mouat (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Mouat

Clan Crest: An oak tree growing out of a rock, Proper

Clan Motto: Monte Alto (On a high mountain)

Origin of Name: Norman

Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan

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Mouat Clan History

The surname Mouat, also spelled Mouatt, Mowat, and Mowatt, is derived from the Norman surname Mont Hault, which means 'of the high mount' in Latin.

The Monte Altos first settled in Wales, and Mold is a shortened version of their territorial name.

Robert Montealto is the first of this name to be recorded in Scotland, sometime during David I's reign, and he is thought to have come up from Wales.

During William the Lion's reign, the family rose to prominence, acquiring lands in Angus and the lordship of Fern of Ferne.

Between 1210 and 1233, both Robert de Muhaut and Michaele de Muhaut witnessed a charter by William Cumin, Earl of Buchan, of half a mark of silver of the ferm of Inuermer.

A William de Monte Alto witnessed a preambulation of the marches of Arbroath Abbey and Kynblathmund in 12119.

Alexander de Mohaut appears frequently as a charter witness in the charters of Arbroath and Brechin between 1198 and 1218. His surname has been written in various ways, including Mouhat, Mouhaut, Muhaut, and Muhauth.

Michael de Monte Alto witnessed a pact between the bishop of Moray and the Earl of Mynynteth, Walter Cumyn, regarding the lands of Kynkardyn while serving as sheriff of Inverness. Michael also witnessed Alexander II's charter to Gylandris MacLod in 1242, and a composition between Freskyn de Moravia, Lord of Duffus, and Simon, Bishop of Moray, "super usuario nemoris et mores de Spyny et de Fynrossy" in 1248.

William de Monte Alto was sheriff of Crumbathyn (now Cromarty) in 1263 and attested an agreement between Archibald Heroch, bishop of Caithness, and William de Moravia, 1st Earl of Sutherland in 1275.

Bernard de Monte Alto traveled to Norway with Princess Margaret, Alexander III's daughter, along with the abbot of Balmurinach (Balmerino) and a number of knights. When he returned, he drowned, along with the abbot and many others, when the ship they were on capsized.

William de Mahaut signed a letter to England's Edward I in 1289 regarding the proposed marriage of his eldest son, the future Edward II, and Margaret, Maid of Norway.

In 1296, William de Mahaut was among the many nobles who signed the Ragman Rolls, pledging their allegiance to Edward I. By 1305, William had earned the title of "heritable sheriff" of Crombathyn.

Bernard de Mohaut "was sentenced to be drawn and hanged" for taking arms against the king of England at Methven (Meffen), "and feloniously slaying some of the king's liegemen there and taken on the field, and slaying Roger de Tany the king's vallet, in Selkirk forest, and burning and destroying churches in Scotland,"

William de Montealto was killed during the siege of Norham Castle in 1327. Seven years earlier, in 1320, he was one of the signatories to the Scottish Declaration of Independence.

Mowats were settled in Ayrshire around the beginning of the fifteenth century, and within two years they were found in the Edinburgh area.

It is not an uncommon name, and can still be found in Caithness and the Orkneys where local pronuciation of the name is ‘Mode’.

John Mowet was prebendary of the church of Guthrie in Aberlemno, Angus, in 1410.

Axel Mowat (1593-1661), a descendant of the Mowats of Balquhally in Aberdeenshire, was one of Norway's wealthiest men. Admiral Axel served in the Norwegian-Danish navy.

Mouat has also been spelled Meuatt, Mohuat, Mout, Movat, Mowait, Mowaite, Mowit, and Mwat over the years.