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

Montes, 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 Montes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Montes in America

Montes is the 723rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Montes surname appeared 48,142 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 16 people would have the surname Montes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Montes 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 Montes

The surname Montes originates from Spain and is derived from the Spanish word "monte," meaning mountain or hill. It is believed to have first appeared in the 12th century, during the Christian Reconquest of Spain from the Moors.

This surname was likely given to families living near a prominent mountain or hill, or those who moved from one mountainous region to another. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical documents from the regions of Catalonia, Aragon, and Castile.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Don Pedro Montes, a Spanish nobleman who lived in the 13th century and served as a military commander during the reign of King Alfonso X. Another notable figure was Juan Montes, a 15th-century explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Montes surname began to spread beyond Spain to other parts of Europe and the Americas, as Spanish explorers, soldiers, and settlers established colonies in these regions. In Mexico, for example, the name can be traced back to the early days of the Spanish conquest, with several individuals bearing the surname serving under Hernán Cortés.

One of the most famous bearers of the Montes surname was Francisco Montes de Oca, a 17th-century Spanish military leader and governor of New Mexico from 1667 to 1671. He played a crucial role in defending the region against Native American uprisings and expanding Spanish control over the area.

In the 18th century, Francisco Montes y Delgado (1720-1786) was a renowned Spanish painter and engraver, known for his religious works and portraits. He was appointed as a court painter by King Charles III and his works can be found in museums and churches throughout Spain.

Another notable figure was Isidro Montes de Oca (1789-1847), a Mexican politician and military leader who fought in the Mexican War of Independence against Spain. He later served as the governor of the state of Guanajuato and played a significant role in the country's early years as an independent nation.

As the surname Montes spread across different countries and regions, it naturally evolved with varying spellings and pronunciations, reflecting local linguistic influences and customs. However, its core meaning and connection to mountainous or hilly regions remained constant throughout its history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Montes

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

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

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

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