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

Montclair, 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 Montclair surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Montclair in America

Montclair is the 137816th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Montclair surname appeared 112 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Montclair.

The history of the last name Montclair

The surname Montclair originates from France, with records dating back to the early medieval period. The name is derived from the French words mont meaning "mountain" and clair meaning "clear" or "bright." This suggests that the surname initially referred to people living near a clear mountain or a bright, possibly sunny, hillside area.

The regions where the surname Montclair was most commonly found were in the south-eastern part of France, particularly in the areas around the Alps and other elevated terrains. Historical records from the 12th and 13th centuries show the name appearing in various forms, including Montclare and Montclere. These alterations were often a result of regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling in medieval records.

One of the earliest known instances of the name Montclair appeared in a manuscript from 1217, referring to a Sir Pierre de Montclair, a knight who owned lands in the region of Provence. This knight is recorded in a land grant document, indicating his social standing and wealth.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure with this surname was Jean Montclair, born in 1452 and active as an accomplished stonemason and architect. He played a significant role in the construction of several chateaux in the Loire Valley, leaving his mark on French architectural history.

Another significant mention is of Louise de Montclair, born in 1598, a noblewoman who was well-known for her patronage of the arts and her salon in Paris, which was a hub for intellectuals and artists of her time. Her contributions significantly influenced the cultural dynamism of 17th-century France.

In the 18th century, Henri Montclair, born in 1724, emerged as a prominent military officer in the French army. He distinguished himself in several battles during the War of Austrian Succession and subsequently the Seven Years' War. His strategic acumen earned him a respected place in military history.

The Montclair name also carried over into the arts with Lucien Montclair, a painter born in 1823, whose impressionist works gained significant recognition in the latter half of the 19th century. His landscapes and depictions of rural life captured the essence of French countryside, adding cultural depth to the surname's legacy.

The surname Montclair, through its various bearers, reflects a rich tapestry of French history, spanning from medieval knights and noblewomen to military leaders and artists. Each individual highlighted contributed uniquely to the regions and eras they represented, helping to shape the identity and enduring legacy of the Montclair name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Montclair

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Montclair 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.

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

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

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