UK surname
A French surname derived from the word meaning "mountain".
In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Montagne surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21, ranked #36,596, down from #32,243 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Montagne is 173 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 110.0%.
1881 census count
10
Ranked #32,243
Modern count
21
2016, ranked #36,596
Peak year
1891
173 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Montagne surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Montagne surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 65 | #21,747 |
| 1861 | historical | 85 | #22,922 |
| 1881 | historical | 10 | #32,243 |
| 1891 | historical | 173 | #16,600 |
| 1901 | historical | 18 | #32,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 134 | #19,131 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 19 | #35,991 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 20 | #36,570 |
| 2013 | modern | 21 | #36,561 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 21 | #36,596 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough, St Dunstan Stepney and St Mary Stratford-le-Bow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | St Mary Stratford-le-Bow | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Montagne surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Montagne, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Montagne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Montagne household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Montagne is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Montagne is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Montagne, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Montagne is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "montagne" which means "mountain." It first emerged in the regions of northern France, particularly in Normandy and Brittany, during the Middle Ages.
The name Montagne is believed to have been initially a descriptive surname, given to individuals who lived near or on a mountain or hill. It may have also been used as a topographic name, referring to a specific place or settlement named after a prominent geographical feature such as a mountain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Montagne can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Rainaldus de Muntania, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name Montagne.
In the 13th century, the name Montagne appeared in various medieval records and chronicles, such as the Pipe Rolls of Normandy and the Cartulary of the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel. These documents indicate that the name was well-established among the Norman nobility and landowners during this period.
Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Montagne are:
1. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), a renowned French Renaissance philosopher and essayist, best known for his philosophical work "Essays." 2. Philippe de Montagne (1589-1654), a French nobleman and military commander who served as the Marshal of France during the Thirty Years' War. 3. Jean-François de La Montagne (1616-1701), a French Catholic priest and writer who authored several theological works. 4. Raymond de Montagne (1610-1671), a French politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of France under Louis XIV. 5. Marie-Madeleine de Montagne (1699-1785), a French writer and poet who was a member of the literary salons of Paris during the Enlightenment period.
The name Montagne has also been associated with various place names throughout France, such as Montagne-Noire (a mountain range in southern France), Montagne-Verte (a commune in Normandy), and Montagne-sur-Cher (a town in central France).
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Montagne surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 9 Montagnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 9 | 9.25x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 14.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bow London in Middlesex leads with 4 Montagnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 322.58x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bow London | 4 | 322.58x |
| Limehouse London | 3 | 280.37x |
| Aberystruth | 1 | 161.29x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 27.93x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 100.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Montagne surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Montagne surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Montagne households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Blacksmith | 2 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coal Porter | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Foundry | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Retired Skin Merchant Son | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Montagne surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 21 in 2016. That gives Montagne a modern rank of #36,596.
A French surname derived from the word meaning "mountain".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Montagne bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.