The de Montfitchet (de Montfichet, de Mountfitchet) family were of
Norman origin, probably from the town of
Montfiquet. He received land in Essex in reward for his service and the family were subsequently based there, initially in the castle at
Stansted Mountfitchet. They lasted for five generations before becoming extinct when
Richard de Montfichet
Richard de Montfichet (or Richard de Munfichet) (died 1267) was a '' Magna Carta'' surety. He was a landowner in Essex.
Life
He was the son of another Richard de Montfichet, whom Henry II made forester of Essex. Richard the elder was son of Gilb ...
died without issue in 1258. Other early attested spellings include Munfichet, Muntfichet, Montefixo, and Mufchet;
[See, e.g.: ''VCH Northampton'' 3:227-23129, fn. 21 (cites ''Buccleuch Deeds'', ca. 1280s): "Divorgilla daughter of Sir Walter Montfichet (Montefixo)". ''Ragman Rolls'' 34 (28 August 1296): "Mufchet, Dauid (del counte de Anegos)".] while later variants include Mountfiquit
[ Stow is an important source for the medieval history of London, but wrote in an era before standardisation of spelling; he spells ''Montfichet'' as ''Mountfiquit''.] and Montfiket.
[ Additional related information is found o]
pp. 165, 187, 341
Amongst their accomplishments, the family founded
Stratford Langthorne Abbey, which became the fifth largest in England. The links with the area were preserved even after the family disappeared, and the de Montfitchet coat of arms figured in the insignia of the
County Borough of West Ham. Monfichet Road in the
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at Stratford is named after the family. So are
Montfichet's Tower in London, and the Essex town of
Stansted Mountfitchet, with its partially reconstructed Castle Mountfitchet. The nearby district of
Plaistow in London may have acquired its name when Phillipa de Monfitchet married Sir Hugh de Plaiz.
See also
*
Cavendish family, a related lineage
References
{{reflist
External links
* http://magnacarta800th.com/schools/biographies/the-25-barons-of-magna-carta/richard-de-montfichet/
Norman families
Norman conquest of England
Normandy