Surname Menteith - Meaning and Origin
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Menteith: What does the surname Menteith mean?
The last name Menteith is of Scottish origin, and is derived from the placename that is found in both Scotland and England. The name Menteith derives from the Gaelic Monadh Talamh, which literally means “foot of the land” in reference to the area of land that was inhabited or owned by the family. It is believed that the Menteith family originally lived near Lake of Menteith in Scotland, although the precise location of the family’s origin is unknown.
The family’s first mention in history can be traced back to the 13th century, when Sir William de Menthith was one of the commanders of the English forces during the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
The Menteith family are recognized as a Sept of the Clann Chattan, and to this day their crest remains an Eagle’s head with a ring in its beak, while their motto ‘Tandem Vincit’ (Latin for ‘victory at last’) is believed to refer to their bravery and victory at the Battle of Bannockburn.
Menteith is an uncommon last name, but still occasionally found in parts of Scotland and England. Bearers of the name Menteith have a long and proud history that goes back hundreds of years, with their courage and dedication to their family having been recognized and honored with their own crest and motto.
Order DNA origin analysisMenteith: Where does the name Menteith come from?
The last name Menteith is thought to have originated in Scotland. It is most common today in Scotland, particularly in Stirling County, where a Menteith Castle once stood. There are currently estimated to be around 500 bearers of the name Menteith living in Scotland.
The name is also seen in other countries, including Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In Canada, Menteith is particularly common in Alberta and Ontario. In the United States, the name is most common in California, Florida and Texas. In the United Kingdom, outside of Scotland, the name can be found in the west Midlands, and in the north, in Lancashire and Yorkshire.
The word Menteith is thought to mean ‘hill of the wind’ in Gaelic, relating to the family’s geographical origins. The associated coat of arms, which have been in existence since at least the 12th century, subtly honour this, in the form of the blackbird of Menteith which features on the coat of arms. The blackbird is said to be a reference to the wind which swept over the Menteith hills of Stirlingshire.
In short, the last name Menteith is commonly found in Scotland, particularly Stirlingshire, and also in countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Despite the family’s geographical spread, the name retains its strong ties to Scotland.
Variations of the surname Menteith
Menteith is an old Scottish baronial name, derived from certain lands in Perthshire, now known as the Barony of Menteith. The name can be traced back to the 12th century when it was first recorded as Mentieth, as well as its variants Menethie and Meniteth.
Over the centuries, several different spelling variants have developed for the Menteith surname, due to the general laxity of medieval spelling. Popular variations include Minty, Movery, Munteath, Monteith, Montieth, Montith, Mentyth, Menteyth and Menyteith.
Today, the Menteith surname is quite common in Scotland, especially in its native Perthshire, as well as east and west coast of Scotland. It is also found in parts of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Variants of the name are also found in the United States, with the earliest records dating back to the mid-17th century.
The Menteith surname is sometimes confused with similarly-spelled terms such as Menzies, which is itself a Scottish name that has been in use since at least the 12th century.
In addition to the variants mentioned above, bearers of the Menteith name will find that the spelling is often adapted into other surnames such as Menteth, Muniteith and Mantith. These variants tend to stem from dialectal differences and local pronunciations of the name.
Famous people with the name Menteith
- Robert Menteith, 12th century Scottish nobleman
- Michael Menteith, English actor
- Rob Menteith, Canadian composer and producer
- Moderata Fonte, the pen name of Modesta di Pozzo di Forzi, an Italian writer of the late 16th century
- Ida Menteith, Scottish nurse
- Chris Menteith, Scottish singer and songwriter
- Mark Menteith, astronomer
- Bill Menteith, racing driver
- Pat Menteith, Scottish historian
- Don Menteith, Canadian poet
- Neil Menteith, British author
- Thomas Menteith, Member of Parliament for Pontefract in 1422
- Adam Menteith, Bishop of Dunblane from 1251-1299
- Donal Menteith, 13th-14th century Scottish nobleman
- Angus Menteith, 14th century Scottish nobleman
- John Menteith, 14th century Scottish nobleman
- Patrick Menteith, 15th century Bishop of Dunblane
- Katherine Menteith, Scottish poet
- Allan Menteith, English footballer
- John Menteith, English architect, 18th century