NameCensus.

UK surname

Montes

A topographic surname of Spanish origin, referring to someone who lived near mountains or hills.

In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Montes surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 136, ranked #25,377, up from #33,110 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Westminster and Islington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Montes is 136 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2620.0%.

1881 census count

5

Ranked #33,110

Modern count

136

2016, ranked #25,377

Peak year

2016

136 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Montes had 5 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,110 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016, ranked #25,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 30 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Montes surname distribution map

The map shows where the Montes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Montes surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Montes over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1861 historical 30 #30,188
1881 historical 5 #33,110
1891 historical 11 #33,268
1901 historical 23 #31,466
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 40 #33,666
1998 modern 55 #32,399
1999 modern 57 #32,367
2000 modern 62 #31,939
2001 modern 55 #32,482
2002 modern 56 #32,753
2003 modern 64 #32,056
2004 modern 61 #32,581
2005 modern 64 #32,482
2006 modern 68 #32,441
2007 modern 76 #31,966
2008 modern 84 #31,370
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 119 #27,063
2012 modern 124 #26,432
2013 modern 124 #26,842
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 128 #26,356
2016 modern 136 #25,377

Geography

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Where Montes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, Westminster, Islington and Kensington and Chelsea. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 024 Brent
2 Brent 011 Brent
3 Westminster 010 Westminster
4 Islington 018 Islington
5 Kensington and Chelsea 005 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Montes

These lists show first names that appear often with the Montes surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Montes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Montes, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Montes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Montes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Montes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Montes is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Montes falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Montes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Montes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of 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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Montes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Montes surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 5 Montes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.69x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 5 8.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hindley in Lancashire leads with 5 Montes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2000.00x.

Place Total Index
Hindley 5 2000.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Montes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Betty 1
Ellen 1
Maria 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Montes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Hugh 1
John 1

Top occupations

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 Montes households.

FAQ

Montes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Montes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Montes surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Montes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016. That gives Montes a modern rank of #25,377.

What does the Montes surname mean?

A topographic surname of Spanish origin, referring to someone who lived near mountains or hills.

What does the Montes map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Montes bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.