Moniker

Recorded in a number of forms including Moncur, Mankor, Minker, Moniker, Moncarr, Muncor and Muncer, this is a famous Scottish surname. It is one which is claimed to be ultimately of Norman-French origins, and if so may well owe something to the invasion of England in 1066, when many French took the opportunity to offer their services to the king of Scotland. In return for this 'protection', they were often granted lands and estates. This surname is first recorded in Scotland in the 13th century, and it is claimed without total proof, that the family originate from the village of Moncheur in the region of Tournai and Namur, in France. The family have long held as its coat of arms a blazon of red shield, a silver fesse, charged with three black hammers. It is known that Andrew de Muncurr was a retainer of James, known as 'The Steward of Scotland', in about the year 1285 and that one Robert de Muntcurt was one of the prisoners taken at Dunbar Castle in the same year. The family of Moncur of Dundee "for several generations enjoyed a high reputation as armoures" in the accounts of the Lord High Treasurer, of 1566, and this would seem to be proven by the coat of arms with its charge of three hammers. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Michale de Muncur. This was dated 1237, when he was a charter witness, during the reign of King Alexander II of Scotland, 1214 - 1249. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.