Explore the Family Name Montgomery
The meaning of Montgomery
English, Scottish, and northern Irish (of Norman origin): habitational name from Sainte-Foy-de-Montgomery and Saint-Germain-de-Montgomery (Calvados). In Ireland this surname was present in the medieval period, died out, and was then reintroduced from Scotland in the 17th century. It has been Gaelicized in Ireland as Mac Iomaire and in Scotland as Mac Gumaraid.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Montgomery in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Montgomery has experienced a slight decline in popularity over the past decade. In 2000, Montgomery was ranked as the 246th most popular surname, but by 2010, it had dropped to the 263rd position, indicating a -6.91% change. However, despite this decrease in rank, the count of people with the Montgomery surname actually increased from 112,144 in 2000 to 115,953 in 2010, reflecting a growth rate of 3.4%. The proportion per 100,000 population also decreased by -5.44%, standing at 41.57 in 2000 and reducing to 39.31 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #246 | #263 | -6.91% |
| Count | 112,144 | 115,953 | 3.4% |
| Proportion per 100k | 41.57 | 39.31 | -5.44% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Montgomery
Discussing the ethnic identity of those with the Montgomery surname, again based on the Decennial U.S. Census, there have been some notable shifts between 2000 and 2010. Those identifying as White made up the majority with 70.22% in 2000 decreasing slightly to 67.86% in 2010. Individuals identifying as Black accounted for 25.53% in 2000, increasing marginally to 26.23% in 2010. The largest percentage increase was among those who identify as Hispanic, growing by 53.59%, followed by those identifying as two or more races with a rise of 37.79%. The proportions of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native also saw increases, with rates of 31.11% and 10.91% respectively.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 70.22% | 67.86% | -3.36% |
| Black | 25.53% | 26.23% | 2.74% |
| Two or More Races | 1.72% | 2.37% | 37.79% |
| Hispanic | 1.53% | 2.35% | 53.59% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.55% | 0.61% | 10.91% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.45% | 0.59% | 31.11% |
Montgomery ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Montgomery is British & Irish, which comprises 55.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.8%) and Eastern European (3.3%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Nigerian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 55.1% |
| French & German | 21.8% |
| Eastern European | 3.3% |
| Other | 19.8% |
Possible origins of the surname Montgomery
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Montgomery have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 85.90% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 85.90% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 85.70% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 85.40% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 85.20% |
What Montgomery haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Montgomery is J-L26, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup J-L26 is descended from haplogroup J-M304. Other common haplogroups include R-L627 and J-M172, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Britt, Otero, Strange, Hinojosa, Valencia, Betancourt, Walton, Kirchner, Durham, Austin.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Montgomery surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins J-M304Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Montgomery have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Montgomery" Surname 43.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Montgomery" Surname 29.5%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Montgomery" Surname 24.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Cat Allergy
An allergic reaction to cats, characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and difficulty breathing.
"Montgomery" Surname 35.9%
23andMe Users 36.7%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Montgomery?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Montgomery are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition