NameCensus.

UK surname

Montoya

A Spanish habitational surname referring to someone from any of various places called Montoya, derived from "monte" meaning "mountain".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, East Cambridgeshire and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Montoya is 176 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

2016

176 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016, ranked #21,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Montoya surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Montoya surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Montoya 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
1851 historical 3 #32,890
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 62 #31,412
1998 modern 55 #32,399
1999 modern 68 #31,311
2000 modern 64 #31,735
2001 modern 57 #32,275
2002 modern 69 #31,527
2003 modern 75 #30,994
2004 modern 81 #30,569
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 119 #25,747
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 143 #24,056
2012 modern 157 #22,551
2013 modern 150 #23,653
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 160 #22,701
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

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Where Montoyas 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 Hackney, East Cambridgeshire, Lewisham, Basingstoke and Deane and Surrey Heath. 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 Hackney 002 Hackney
2 East Cambridgeshire 011 East Cambridgeshire
3 Lewisham 007 Lewisham
4 Basingstoke and Deane 014 Basingstoke and Deane
5 Surrey Heath 010 Surrey Heath

Forenames

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First names often paired with Montoya

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Montoya

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Montoya surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Montoya 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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, Montoya 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

Montoya 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

Montoya 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 Montoya is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Montoya

The surname Montoya originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish words "monte" meaning mountain and "oya" meaning a small valley or hollow, suggesting that the name likely referred to someone who lived in a small valley surrounded by mountains.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Montoya can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrías de Castilla, a medieval census of landowners and vassals in the Kingdom of Castile, dated around 1352. This document mentions several individuals with the surname Montoya from various regions of northern Spain.

In the 15th century, the name Montoya appeared in several historical records and manuscripts, including the Catastro del Marqués de la Ensenada, a census conducted in the mid-18th century in the regions of Castile and León. This document lists numerous families with the surname Montoya, indicating their widespread presence throughout these regions.

Notable individuals with the surname Montoya throughout history include:

1. Rodrigo de Montoya (c. 1512-1587), a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the conquest of the Philippines and helped establish Spanish settlements in the region.

2. Juan de Montoya (c. 1568-1628), a Spanish Jesuit missionary who worked among the Guaraní people in present-day Paraguay and Argentina, and authored several important works on the Guaraní language.

3. María de Montoya (c. 1610-1670), a Spanish noble and philanthropist known for her charitable work and support of religious organizations in Seville.

4. Gaspar de Montoya (c. 1670-1738), a Spanish military engineer who designed and oversaw the construction of several fortifications in colonial Mexico and Cuba.

5. Lope de Montoya (c. 1720-1786), a Spanish painter known for his religious works and portraits, many of which can be found in churches and museums throughout Spain.

The name Montoya has also been associated with various place names throughout Spain, such as Montoya de Valdueza, a municipality in the province of León, and Montoya, a village in the province of Burgos.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Montoya surname: questions and answers

How common is the Montoya surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016. That gives Montoya a modern rank of #21,298.

What does the Montoya surname mean?

A Spanish habitational surname referring to someone from any of various places called Montoya, derived from "monte" meaning "mountain".

What does the Montoya map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Montoya 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.