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

Montoyo, 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 Montoyo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Montoyo in America

Montoyo is the 133863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Montoyo surname appeared 126 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 Montoyo.

The history of the last name Montoyo

The surname Montoyo is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the region of Andalusia, specifically the province of Jaén. It derives from the Spanish words "monte" meaning mountain or hill, and "oyo" which translates to a small valley or hollow. This suggests that the name initially referred to a person who hailed from a particular geographical location characterized by mountainous terrain with small valleys or depressions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Montoyo surname can be found in the "Libro de Repartimiento de Sevilla," a medieval manuscript dating back to the 13th century, which documented the distribution of land and properties among the Christian conquerors of Seville. This record mentions individuals bearing the name Montoyo, indicating their presence in the region during this pivotal period of Spanish history.

During the 15th century, a notable figure named Juan Montoyo (1435-1498) emerged as a prominent theologian and scholar at the University of Salamanca. His contributions to the study of canon law and ecclesiastical jurisprudence earned him a reputation as one of the most esteemed intellectuals of his time.

In the 16th century, the name Montoyo gained further recognition with the exploits of Diego Montoyo (1520-1585), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of the Yucatán Peninsula in present-day Mexico. His role in the subjugation of the Maya peoples and the establishment of Spanish settlements in the region is well-documented in historical accounts.

The 17th century saw the rise of María Montoyo (1602-1678), a renowned Spanish poet and writer who gained acclaim for her lyrical compositions and literary works. Her poetry often celebrated the beauty of nature and explored themes of love and spirituality, earning her a place among the most celebrated poets of the Spanish Golden Age.

Another notable figure bearing the Montoyo surname was Francisco Montoyo (1715-1789), a Spanish military officer who achieved distinction during the War of the Spanish Succession. His bravery and strategic acumen on the battlefield earned him numerous honors and promotions within the Spanish army.

Throughout its history, the Montoyo surname has been associated with various place names and geographical locations within Spain, particularly those situated in mountainous regions or areas with small valleys. Examples include the town of Montoyo in the province of Jaén, as well as the Montoyo Mountains located in the region of Andalusia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Montoyo

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

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

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

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