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

Montenegro, 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 Montenegro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Montenegro in America

Montenegro is the 3365th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Montenegro surname appeared 10,606 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Montenegro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Montenegro 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 Montenegro

The surname Montenegro has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the region of Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It dates back to the 14th century and is derived from the Spanish words "monte" meaning "mountain" and "negro" meaning "black." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near or in a prominent black or dark-colored mountain range.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Montenegro can be found in the Spanish census records of 1384, where a certain Pedro Montenegro is listed as a resident of the town of Consuegra, in the province of Toledo. The name also appears in several medieval manuscripts and chronicles from the region, further cementing its Spanish origins.

During the 16th century, the name Montenegro began to spread across the Iberian Peninsula and beyond, as Spanish explorers and conquistadors ventured to the Americas and other parts of the world. One notable figure with this surname was Rodrigo de Montenegro y Buitrago (1515-1590), a Spanish soldier and explorer who played a significant role in the conquest of Chile.

In the 17th century, the name Montenegro gained prominence in Italy, particularly in the city of Naples, where a noble family bearing this surname held significant influence. One of the most famous members of this Italian branch was Giovanni Battista Montenegro (1663-1728), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in Naples, including the Church of San Francesco delle Monache.

Another prominent individual with the surname Montenegro was Pedro Antonio de Montenegro y Cuenca (1711-1789), a Spanish military officer and colonial governor who served as the Governor of Panama from 1765 to 1768. His leadership during this period was instrumental in strengthening Spanish control over the region.

In the 19th century, the name Montenegro crossed the Atlantic and established a presence in the Americas. One notable figure from this era was José Montenegro Campuzano (1843-1917), a Colombian politician and diplomat who served as the President of Colombia from 1908 to 1909.

Throughout its history, the surname Montenegro has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including nobles, military leaders, artists, and politicians. While its origins can be traced back to Spain, the name has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the global reach of Spanish influence and migration patterns over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Montenegro

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

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

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

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