Whilst "Saint Denis" undoubtedly refers to the ancient
Saint Denis of Paris, the
etymology of the term "Montjoie" is overall uncertain. It is first attested in
The Song of Roland (12th century). The
Catholic Encyclopedia suggested it originated in a term for marking stones or
cairns set up on the roadside in
Late Latin known as
mons Jovis which from 1200 in French appears as
monjoie.
Charles Arnould claimed the word originated in
Gaulish *mant- ("path") and
*gauda ("pile of stones"). Additional etymological theories exist which do not connect the term "montjoie" to the traditional explanation of the Oriflamme.
Henri Diament believed it was in reference of the martyrdom of Saint Denis of Paris, which he claimed was associated with a
Mons Jovis or
Mons Gaudii ("Mountain of Joy"). However this connection is unexplained, as the name of the place of St. Denis' martyrdom,
Montmartre, originated from
Mons Martis rather than
Mons Jovis. A connection to
Montmartre is re-affirmed by
G. Bugler, who believed the "joie" came from a
cognate of "
Gau", or region, presumably translating the phrase as "the place of the hill of St. Denis".
Laura Hibbard Loomis believed the phrase to have originated from
"meum gaudium" (my joy). This alternative Latin etymology is given by
Gerhard Rohlfs, who connected it to "Mons Gaudii", a name given by medieval pilgrims to a point where one would get their first glimpse of their destination. ==Contemporary usage==