Montford
From a hill topped with trees.
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Montford. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Montford today is around 86 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Montford births was 1917 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Montford. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Montford is about 86 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Montfords were born before 1950.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Montford. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
1917
8 babies that year
Average age
86
years old
1947 SSA rank
#4,092
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Montford: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Montford from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 43 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Montford remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Montford by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Montford during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Montford
The given name Montford has its origins in England, where it was derived from the Old French words "mont" meaning "hill" and "fort" meaning "strong". It is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, likely as a surname initially referring to someone who lived near a strong or fortified hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Montford dates back to the 12th century, when a Norman knight named William de Montfort accompanied King Richard I on the Third Crusade to the Holy Land. The name is also mentioned in the 13th century epic poem "The Song of Roland", which chronicles the exploits of the legendary Frankish military leader Roland during the reign of Charlemagne.
In the 14th century, a notable figure named Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, played a pivotal role in the Barons' War against King Henry III of England. He was a key figure in the establishment of the first English Parliament and is regarded as one of the founders of representative government in England.
Another prominent individual with the name Montford was Sir John de Montfort, a 14th century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was celebrated for his bravery and military prowess, particularly during the Battle of Crécy in 1346.
In the 15th century, a French nobleman named John de Montfort, Duke of Brittany, played a significant role in the Breton War of Succession. He was a skilled military commander and is remembered for his efforts in defending the independence of the Duchy of Brittany.
During the 16th century, a Scottish writer and scholar named Robert Montford contributed to the development of the Scottish Reformation. He was a notable figure in the propagation of Protestant ideals and the translation of religious texts into the vernacular.
While the name Montford has historical roots and associations, it has become relatively uncommon in modern times, particularly as a given name. However, its rich history and connections to significant figures from various eras make it a fascinating and storied moniker.
People
Montford + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Montford as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Montford: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Montford?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Montford going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Montford a common name?
We classify Montford as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 102 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Montford most popular?
The single biggest year for Montford was 1917, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Montford is about 86 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Montford a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Montford in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.