The name Montagu appears to be a locational name from Normandy about the time of William the Conqueror. Montague would be, then, one who comes from or is of Montagu. Fine for the 11th century, meaningless today.

William Joseph Montague, the emigrant, was a whitesmith and did fine forging of cutlery, gun barrels, spades, shovels and scythes. After emigrating to the U.S. sometime between 1800 and 1808, the family lived in Boston and Roxbury, Massachusetts; Biddleford, Maine; and Albany, New York. During the War of 1812, William and Ann came into Upper Canada and he enlisted as an armourer in the 49th Regiment, his duties being to keep the arms, guns, etc. in repair. After the war, he returned to his work in Albany. In 1816, he returned to Ontario with his wife and family and settled temporarily at Long Point on Lake Erie. By 1820, he purchased the license of occupation for 600 acres at the Forks of the Thames (Con 1, Lot 17, etc. London Twp.) - formerly the Joshua Applegarth tract. William died suddenly 26 Sept 1822. His eldest son was left to settle the land agreement at the forks. Goodspeed's History of Middlesex County states that the family settled in 1817.