Surname Montgomery - Meaning and Origin

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Q. Montgomery

Montgomery: What does the surname Montgomery mean?

The surname Montgomery is of Norman origin and was introduced into the British Isles following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It is derived from the Old French elements "mont", meaning "hill" and "Gomeri", a given first name meaning "man of power". Thus, the name Montgomery essentially means "Gomeri's hill". Montgomerie is an alternate spelling used in Scotland. The original Montgomery was a place in the Calvados region of France.

Many noble families in Britain, Scotland, and Ireland carried this surname, including the Earls of Shrewsbury in England and the Viscounts Montgomerie in Scotland. The last name Montgomery could also suggest descent from these noble families.

It should be noted that not all people with the surname Montgomery are related, as the name was often given to individuals who lived near hills, or from the town of Montgomery in France. The spelling of the name has varied over centuries and different branches of the family.

In Scotland, Montgomery is a popular clan name, with numerous individuals bearing the name tracing their ancestry back to the powerful Clan Montgomery, one of the oldest and most distinguished families in the nation.

Montgomery: Where does the name Montgomery come from?

The last name Montgomery is most commonly found in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, the Montgomery surname is mostly concentrated in the South and Midwest, but can be found throughout the country. According to census data, the largest population of people with the last name Montgomery in the United States can be found in the state of Georgia. The 2019 population estimates for Montgomery families in the United States is nearly 630,000.

The Montgomery surname is of Scottish and Irish origin. It is derived from the Norman French name "Montgomery", which is a habitational name from any of the numerous places named with the Old French word 'mont', meaning 'hill'.

The majority of Montgomerys in the world today continue to live in English-speaking countries, with over 350,000 living in the United Kingdom and nearly 150,000 in Australia. In Canada, the Montgomery surname is predominately clustered in provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia.

Regardless of which region of the world the last name Montgomery is most prominent today, its origins remain the same and remain associated with Scotland and Ireland.

Variations of the surname Montgomery

Montgomery is an Anglo-Norman surname derived from the Latin phrase montem gomericum, meaning "Gomeric's hill." The name is of Norman origin and is recorded in Scotland as early as 1296. Variations of the name include Montgomerie, Montgomery, Montgomry, Montgomari, Montgomarie, and Montgomeri.

Montgomery is also an Irish surname with both Scottish and English connections. The Irish form is Ó Maoilsionnaigh, with the prefix 'O' meaning "grandson" or " male descendant". Variations of the name in Irish include Ó Maelénaigh, Ó Maoldhomhnaigh, Ó Maelmochtaigh, Ó Meallmhurach, and Ó Meallmóraigh.

In the United States and other countries it has been considered a habitation name, derived from places named Montgomery or Montgomeryshire. In England, Montgomery has sometimes been used as an Americanized form of the Jewish surname Moghadam or Magadam.

Variations of the surname can be found in many other languages and cultures, including Montgomerie in French, Montagúer in Spanish, Montagnero in Italian, Montagner in German and Muntgummeri in Finnish.

Famous people with the name Montgomery

• Elizabeth Montgomery: Actress best known for television series Bewitched.
• William Bourn Katherine Montgomery: Pioneer of women’s education and founder of institutions The Bryn Mawr School and the National College for Women (later merged to become Bryn Mawr College).
• Dick Montgomery: Marketing professor, business executive, consultant and author.
• Maybuerry Montgomery: Canadian pop singer.
• Richard Montgomery: Revolutionary War General for the American colonies.
• Lucy Maud Montgomery: Canadian author best known for Anne of Green Gables novel series.
• Boo Montgomery: Former drummer for musical group Here We Go Magic.
• Reverand Absalom Jones Montgomery: influential abolitionist and pastor of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia.
• Rob Montgomery: Singer, songwriter and actor.
• Earl Montgomery: Author of books such as I Ain’t Dead Yet: Life Lessons From the Men I Knew and other volumes.

Other surnames

Montgomerie