Montagne
A French surname derived from the word meaning "mountain".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 686 Americans carry the last name Montagne. That puts it at #38,332 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.20 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 499,642 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Montagne surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
686
1 in 499,642
Census rank
#38,332
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
578
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 578 bearers of the surname Montagne in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.20 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 38332nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Montagne, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.8%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Montagne
The surname Montagne is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "montagne" which means "mountain." It first emerged in the regions of northern France, particularly in Normandy and Brittany, during the Middle Ages.
The name Montagne is believed to have been initially a descriptive surname, given to individuals who lived near or on a mountain or hill. It may have also been used as a topographic name, referring to a specific place or settlement named after a prominent geographical feature such as a mountain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Montagne can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Rainaldus de Muntania, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name Montagne.
In the 13th century, the name Montagne appeared in various medieval records and chronicles, such as the Pipe Rolls of Normandy and the Cartulary of the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel. These documents indicate that the name was well-established among the Norman nobility and landowners during this period.
Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Montagne are:
1. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), a renowned French Renaissance philosopher and essayist, best known for his philosophical work "Essays."
2. Philippe de Montagne (1589-1654), a French nobleman and military commander who served as the Marshal of France during the Thirty Years' War.
3. Jean-François de La Montagne (1616-1701), a French Catholic priest and writer who authored several theological works.
4. Raymond de Montagne (1610-1671), a French politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of France under Louis XIV.
5. Marie-Madeleine de Montagne (1699-1785), a French writer and poet who was a member of the literary salons of Paris during the Enlightenment period.
The name Montagne has also been associated with various place names throughout France, such as Montagne-Noire (a mountain range in southern France), Montagne-Verte (a commune in Normandy), and Montagne-sur-Cher (a town in central France).
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Montagne
Among Census respondents with the surname Montagne, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.8%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Montagne bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Montagne surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.3%
- Hispanic or Latino6.8%
- Two or more races2.8%
- Black or African American2.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Montagne surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #35,445 | #38,332 | -8.1% |
| Count | 601 | 578 | -3.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.22 | 0.20 | -9.1% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Montagne bearers went from 601 to 578 (-3.8% change). The surname moved down 2,887 positions in the national ranking, going from #35,445 to #38,332.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Montagne
FAQ
Montagne surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Montagne?
The surname Montagne holds position #38,332 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 686 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.20 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Montagne surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Montagne, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.8%) and Two or More Races (2.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.