Find out how popular the last name Montalbán is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Montalbán.

Montalbán, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Montalbán surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Montalbán in America

Montalbán is the 31824th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Montalbán surname appeared 725 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Montalbán.

We can also compare 2010 data for Montalbán to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Montalbán

The surname Montalban is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the Iberian Peninsula. It is derived from the phrase "monte alban," which translates to "white mountain" or "shining mountain" in Spanish.

This surname is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to individuals who lived near or were associated with a prominent white or shining mountain. The earliest known records of the Montalban name can be found in various regions of Spain, particularly in the areas of Aragon and Catalonia.

One notable historical reference to the Montalban surname is found in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century manuscript commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile. This book contains detailed descriptions of hunting grounds and mentions several place names, including Montalban, suggesting the presence of individuals bearing this surname during that time.

In the 15th century, records show that a noble family with the surname Montalban held significant influence in the city of Valencia. One prominent member, Juan de Montalban, was a renowned military commander who played a crucial role in the conquest of Granada in 1492, the final victory that ended the Reconquista and the Moorish rule in Spain.

Another notable figure with the Montalban surname was Miguel de Montalban, a 16th-century Spanish playwright and poet. Born in Andalusia around 1530, he was renowned for his comedic plays and contributed significantly to the golden age of Spanish literature.

During the colonial era, the Montalban surname spread to various parts of the Spanish empire, including the Americas. One notable bearer was Juan de Montalban, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century.

In the 19th century, a prominent individual with the Montalban surname was Juan Manuel Montalban y Castillo, a Spanish politician and writer who served as the Minister of Justice and Interior during the reign of Queen Isabella II.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable figures associated with the Montalban surname, which has left an indelible mark on Spanish culture and heritage over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Montalbán

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Montalbán.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Montalbán was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Montalbán has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Montalbán was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Montalbán, please contact us.

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