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

Montilla, 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 Montilla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Montilla in America

Montilla is the 13752nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Montilla surname appeared 2,200 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Montilla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Montilla 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 Montilla

The surname Montilla originated in Spain, specifically in the southern region of Andalusia. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish town of the same name, Montilla, located in the province of Córdoba. The town's name itself comes from the Latin word "mons," meaning "hill" or "mountain," suggesting that the area was likely known for its hilly terrain.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Montilla can be traced back to the 13th century, around the time of the Reconquista, when Christian kingdoms were reclaiming territories from the Moors. During this period, many individuals adopted surnames based on their place of origin or residence, which could explain the emergence of Montilla as a surname for those hailing from the town.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Montilla surname was Diego de Montilla, a Spanish nobleman who lived in the 14th century. He was mentioned in several historical documents as a prominent figure in the court of King Pedro I of Castile, also known as Pedro the Cruel.

Another notable individual with the Montilla surname was Juan de Montilla, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to conquer Mexico in the early 16th century. Juan de Montilla played a significant role in the conquest and was recognized for his bravery and military prowess.

In the realm of arts and literature, Francisco de Montilla was a renowned Spanish playwright and poet from the 16th century. He is best known for his plays, which were popular during the Golden Age of Spanish theater and often featured themes of love, honor, and social commentary.

Moving forward to the 17th century, Pedro Montilla y Guzmán was a Spanish military officer who served as the governor of several Spanish colonies in the Americas, including Panama and Chile. His leadership and strategic skills were highly regarded during his time as a colonial administrator.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Ramón Montilla was a celebrated Spanish painter known for his landscapes and portraits. His works were exhibited in various galleries across Spain and Europe, earning him recognition as one of the most talented artists of his era.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Montilla surname throughout history, highlighting its Spanish origins and the diverse accomplishments of those who bore this name across different fields and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Montilla

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

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

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

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