Clan Moncreiffe: A Legacy of Moncreiffe Hill, Perthshire and Hope Upon Hope
Introduction
Clan Moncreiffe, also written Moncrieff, Moncrieffe, Moncreif, Moncrief and Moncreife, is a historic Scottish clan rooted especially in Perthshire, Moncreiffe Hill, Easter Moncreiffe, the lands between the River Tay and River Earn, Bridge of Earn, Perth, Tulliebole, Bandirran, Kinmonth, and the wider Scottish diaspora.
The clan motto is:
“Sur Esperance”
“Upon hope.”
The clan crest is:
Issuing from a crest coronet Or, a demi-lion rampant Gules, armed and langued Azure.
In simpler terms, this is a red half-lion rising from a golden coronet, with blue claws and tongue. Modern clan summaries give this as the chief’s crest and list the motto as Sur Esperance.
The clan plant badge is:
Oak.
The current chief is:
The Hon. Peregrine Moncreiffe of that Ilk
Baron of Moncreiffe and Easter Moncreiffe
Chief of Clan Moncreiffe
Modern clan references identify him as the chief, with the chiefship held by the Moncreiffe of that Ilk line.
Chapter I: Origins of Clan Moncreiffe
The surname Moncreiffe is territorial.
It comes from the lands and barony of Moncreiffe in Perthshire.
The Gaelic origin is usually given as:
Monadh Craoibhe
meaning:
hill of the tree
moor of the tree
or
hill-land of the trees
The official Clan Moncreiffe Society explains that monadh means a moor or hill pasture and craoibhe means tree; it also notes that Moncreiffe Hill lies on a peninsula between the Rivers Tay and Earn, three miles south-east of Perth.
Historic forms and related spellings include:
Moncreiffe
Moncrieffe
Moncrieff
Moncreiff
Moncrief
Moncreife
Moncref
Moncrife
Montcrieff
Muncrief
Muncreiff
Monkreff
The name’s meaning gives the clan one of the most beautiful landscape origins in Scottish clan history: a family named from a hill, a tree, and an old sacred or wooded place in Perthshire.
Clan Moncreiffe is therefore a clan of Perthshire roots, ancient landholding, oak symbolism, noble heraldry, cadet branches, tartans and hope carried forward through time.
Chapter II: Clan Territory and Ancestral Lands
Clan Moncreiffe’s historic territory includes:
Moncreiffe Hill
Easter Moncreiffe
Perthshire
Bridge of Earn
River Tay
River Earn
Perth
Tulliebole
Bandirran
Kinmonth
The wider Scottish diaspora
The heart of the clan is:
Moncreiffe Hill
This hill lies between the River Tay and River Earn, south-east of Perth. The official clan history places Moncreiffe Hill on a peninsula between these rivers and links the name directly to the wooded hill landscape.
For Clan Moncreiffe, Moncreiffe Hill represents:
name origin
Perthshire identity
oak symbolism
ancient landholding
the sacred bough tradition
the old heart of the clan
The Moncreiffe landscape is not a remote island or far northern glen. It is a central Perthshire landscape: fertile, strategic, wooded, close to Perth, and deeply tied to old Scottish power routes.
Chapter III: Important People and Families of Clan Moncreiffe
The Moncreiffes of that Ilk
The principal chiefly line is:
Moncreiffe of that Ilk
“That Ilk” means “of the same name” — in this case, the family of Moncreiffe from the lands of Moncreiffe.
The chiefs are connected with the barony of Moncreiffe and Easter Moncreiffe, preserving the territorial heart of the clan in the chief’s title.
The Moncreiffs of Tulliebole
One of the principal cadet branches is:
Moncreiff of Tulliebole
Modern clan summaries identify this as a major branch and note that it was founded by the Rev. Archibald Moncreiff, who married Catherine Halliday, heiress of Sir John Halliday of Tulliebole Castle, in 1722.
The Moncreiffs of Bandirran
The Moncreiffs of Bandirran form another important branch.
This line gave rise to related name forms such as Scott-Moncrieff, showing how family identity could combine through marriage, inheritance and estate succession.
The Moncreiffs of Kinmonth
The Moncreiffs of Kinmonth are also listed among clan branches, giving the name a wider Perthshire and Scottish landed-family network.
The Hon. Peregrine Moncreiffe of that Ilk
The current chief is:
The Hon. Peregrine Moncreiffe of that Ilk
Baron of Moncreiffe and Easter Moncreiffe
He is recognised in modern clan references as the chief of Clan Moncreiffe.
Chapter IV: Castles, Lands and Historic Sites
Moncreiffe Hill
Moncreiffe Hill is the key landscape of the clan.
It is the origin place, the symbolic heart, and the meaning behind the name.
For Clan Moncreiffe, it represents:
the hill of the tree
the oak badge
Perthshire roots
the sacred bough tradition
the oldest identity of the name
The official Clan Moncreiffe Society connects the hill directly with the name’s Gaelic meaning and the oak-tree badge.
Easter Moncreiffe
Easter Moncreiffe is central to the chiefly title and territorial identity of the clan.
The current chief is styled Baron of Moncreiffe and Easter Moncreiffe, preserving the old land-name in modern clan identity.
Tulliebole Castle
Tulliebole is important through the Moncreiff of Tulliebole branch.
This cadet line emerged through marriage and inheritance in the 18th century, giving the clan another notable estate association.
Bandirran
Bandirran is associated with another Moncreiff cadet branch.
It connects the clan with wider landed-family networks and the Scott-Moncrieff name.
Perth and Bridge of Earn
Because Moncreiffe Hill lies near Perth and between the Tay and Earn, the wider Perth and Bridge of Earn area is important for family history, local research and place-based heritage.
Chapter V: Clan Events, Alliances and Historical Character
Clan Moncreiffe history is shaped by ancient Perthshire landholding, heraldry, noble connection, cadet branches and survival through territorial continuity.
A Name from the Hill
The most important early event in the clan story is not a single battle, but the formation of the territorial name itself.
Monadh Craoibhe — the hill or moor of the tree — became Moncreiffe.
That makes the name deeply place-based.
Alliances and Rivalries
Modern clan summaries list Clan Moncreiffe’s allied clans as:
Clan Ruthven
Clan Murray
and its rival clan as:
Clan Charteris.
This places Moncreiffe in the wider Perthshire and Lowland noble network of alliance, rivalry, land and kinship.
Cadet Branches
Like many Scottish families, Moncreiffe developed through branches:
Moncreiffe of Moncreiffe
Moncreiff of Tulliebole
Moncreiff of Bandirran
Moncreiff of Kinmonth
Scott-Moncrieff
These branches carried the name into different estates, professions and family lines.
Modern Clan Identity
Today, Clan Moncreiffe has an active society, which describes itself as a community for those who bear the Moncrief / Moncreiffe name, related families, descendants and friends.
This gives the clan a living modern identity, not only a historic one.
Chapter VI: Clan Crest, Motto and Badge
Clan Crest
The Moncreiffe crest is:
Issuing from a crest coronet Or, a demi-lion rampant Gules, armed and langued Azure.
This means:
A red half-lion rising from a golden coronet, with blue claws and tongue.
The lion suggests:
courage
nobility
authority
watchfulness
readiness to defend the name
The coronet suggests rank, honour and noble standing.
Together, the crest is bold and aristocratic: a lion rising upward from a crown-like circlet.
Clan Motto
The motto is:
“Sur Esperance”
This means:
“Upon hope.”
It means:
hope as foundation
hope as inheritance
hope as endurance
hope as the ground on which the clan stands
For Clan Moncreiffe, this motto is especially fitting because the clan’s identity is rooted in a hill and a tree — natural symbols of elevation, depth and endurance.
Clan Badge
The plant badge is:
Oak.
The official clan history directly connects the oak badge with Moncreiffe Hill and the meaning of the name as hill-land of the trees.
Oak suggests:
strength
age
wisdom
deep roots
sacred woodland
endurance through generations
For Clan Moncreiffe, the oak is not decorative. It is central to the meaning of the name itself.
Chapter VII: Clan Moncreiffe Tartans
Moncreiffe Tartan
The Moncreiffe tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 2980.
This is the principal tartan associated with the name.
Moncrieff of Atholl Tartan
The Moncrieff of Atholl tartan is also recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 2981.
This gives another tartan option connected with the broader Moncrieff / Moncreiffe name tradition.
Moncrieffe 1998 Tartan
The Moncrieffe 1998 tartan is recorded as a commemorative tartan.
The Scottish Register of Tartans lists it as designed by Mony Moncrief, dated 1 October 1998, and categorised as Commemorative.
Moncrieff 2017 Tartan
The Moncrieff 2017 tartan is also listed by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 11979.
Moncreiffe Ancient and Modern Tartan Options
Modern suppliers may offer Moncreiffe / Moncrieff tartans in forms such as:
Modern
Ancient
Weathered
Muted
Commemorative variants where available
The usual distinction is dye tone:
Modern colours are deeper and stronger.
Ancient colours are softer and lighter.
Weathered colours are muted and aged.
Muted versions are more restrained.
The Meaning of Moncreiffe Tartan Today
For modern Moncreiffe descendants, tartan represents:
Moncreiffe Hill
Perthshire roots
oak symbolism
the motto “Upon hope”
the red lion crest
the cadet branches of the name
family pride and diaspora identity
The Moncreiffe tartans give this Perthshire clan a visible and wearable Scottish identity.
Chapter VIII: Heritage, Identity and Clan Traditions
Clan Moncreiffe represents a Scottish identity built on land, trees, hope, heraldry and ancient Perthshire roots.
Its story includes:
Monadh Craoibhe
Moncreiffe Hill
Easter Moncreiffe
Perthshire
the Rivers Tay and Earn
the Moncreiffes of that Ilk
the Moncreiffs of Tulliebole
the Moncreiffs of Bandirran
the Moncreiffs of Kinmonth
the red lion crest
the motto “Sur Esperance”
oak plant badge
Moncreiffe tartans
a living recognised chief
Associated names and spellings include:
Moncreiffe
Moncrieffe
Moncrieff
Moncreiff
Moncrief
Moncreife
Moncref
Moncrife
Montcrieff
Muncrief
Scott-Moncrieff
Modern clan and family sources list many spelling variations of the name, reflecting centuries of record-keeping, pronunciation and regional usage.
Chapter IX: Clan Moncreiffe Today
Today, Clan Moncreiffe remains a recognised Scottish clan with a living chief.
The current chief is:
The Hon. Peregrine Moncreiffe of that Ilk
Baron of Moncreiffe and Easter Moncreiffe
Modern clan summaries identify him as chief of the name and arms of Moncreiffe.
Modern Clan Moncreiffe identity can be found through:
Clan Moncreiffe Society
family history research
tartan wearing
study of Moncreiffe Hill and Perthshire records
research into Tulliebole, Bandirran and Kinmonth branches
Scottish heritage events
diaspora family networks
For Moncreiffe descendants, the best first step is to trace the family’s spelling and region:
Moncreiffe?
Moncrieff?
Moncrieffe?
Moncrief?
Perthshire?
Easter Moncreiffe?
Tulliebole?
Bandirran?
Kinmonth?
Ulster?
Canada?
Australia?
New Zealand?
The United States?
That will determine the strongest family-history path.
Chapter X: Legacy of Clan Moncreiffe
The story of Clan Moncreiffe begins with a hill and a tree.
From Monadh Craoibhe came the name.
From Moncreiffe Hill came the homeland.
From Perthshire came the roots.
From oak came the badge.
From the crest came the red lion.
Its motto gives the clan its voice:
Sur Esperance — Upon hope.
That phrase captures the Moncreiffe spirit: rooted like oak, raised like a hill, and carried forward by hope.
From Moncreiffe Hill to Easter Moncreiffe, from Perthshire to descendants across the world, Clan Moncreiffe continues to carry its history forward.
Its legacy is written in tartan, oak leaves, lion crests, wooded hills, old charters, family branches and the pride of those who still honour the name.
Tartan Time Machine Closing Paragraph
At Tartan Time Machine, we bring Scotland’s past into the present by exploring the clans, surnames, castles, kirkyards, tartans, legends and forgotten stories that shaped the nation.
Clan Moncreiffe is one chapter in that greater story — a story of Moncreiffe Hill, Perthshire roots, Easter Moncreiffe, oak badges, red lion crests, tartans and the hopeful motto: Upon hope.
Discover more Scottish history, clan stories, castle features and heritage content at:
www.tartantimemachine.com