MOWAT, a surname originally Montealt. A family, deriving their name from the lands of Montealt in the county of Flint, North Wales, settled in Scotland in the reign of David I., and in course of time the name was softened into Mowat. In the Ragman Roll is the name of Willielmus de Monte Alto, miles. There is a charter of William, earl of Douglas and Mar, to James Mowat of the lands of Easter Fowlis, dated at the castle of Kildrummy, 26th July 1377. The principal family of the name was Mowat of Balquollie, Aberdeenshire. There were also Mowat of Stanehouse in Clydesdale, and Mowat of Busbie in Cunningham, but all these families have long been extinct.