montcerf was opened for colonization in 1870. formerly spelled "moncerf" or "mont cerf", it became montcerf (french for "mount deer") during the nineteenth century and the name presumably refers to a mountain which rises near the village and once teemed with deer and moose. the mission of sainte-philomène-de-montcerf was established in 1872 and the montcerf post office opened in 1886. the municipality of montcerf was officially set up in 1920 with abraham mathieu as first mayor. in 1929, electricity arrived in montcerf, followed by telephone service in 1948.