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

Montoya, 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 Montoya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Montoya in America

Montoya is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Montoya surname appeared 102 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 Montoya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Montoya 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 Montoya

The surname Montaya is of Spanish origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Spanish word "monte," meaning hill or mountain, combined with the suffix "aya," suggesting a geographical location or place of origin.

One of the earliest references to the name Montaya can be found in historical records from the 13th century, where it was mentioned in connection with the Spanish city of Montaya, located in the region of Andalusia. This city, nestled in the mountainous terrain of southern Spain, likely gave rise to the surname as families adopted the location as their surname.

During the Middle Ages, the Montaya family played a significant role in the Reconquista, the protracted struggle between Christian and Moorish forces for control of the Iberian Peninsula. Several members of the Montaya clan are documented as valiant soldiers and military leaders who fought alongside Spanish monarchs in this epic conflict.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Juan de Montaya (1520-1592) gained prominence as a skilled architect and engineer. He contributed to the construction of several iconic buildings and fortifications in Spain, including the Alcázar of Segovia and the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

During the Age of Exploration, the Montaya surname spread across the globe as Spanish conquistadors and colonists ventured to the Americas and other parts of the world. One such explorer was Diego de Montaya (1570-1635), who participated in the conquest of Peru and later served as a colonial governor in present-day Colombia.

Another distinguished individual with the Montaya surname was María de Montaya (1685-1756), a renowned poet and playwright from Madrid. Her literary works, which explored themes of love, religion, and social commentary, gained significant recognition during the Spanish Golden Age.

As the centuries passed, the Montaya surname continued to be associated with various notable figures in Spanish history, including military leaders, artists, and intellectuals. Today, the name can be found across Spain and throughout Latin American countries, a testament to its enduring legacy and Spanish heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Montoya

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

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 Montoya 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 Montoya 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 Montoya was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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