It’s a surname name with a gentlemanly vibe.
Thanks to Sarah for suggesting her son’s name as our Baby Name of the Day: Montgomery.
Montgomery: Surname Name
Ever heard of Gumarich?
Gumarich was a Germanic name, from guma – man – and ric – power, as in Richard and Frederick.
Montgommery was a Norman place name, meaning Gumarich’s mountain.
Roger de Montgomerie was one of William the Conqueror’s closest advisors, and was created the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury for his service.
So it’s fair to say that Montgomery has been a surname in England since around 1066 – choose your spelling. The 1st Earl of Shrewsbury was far from the last to wear the name.
Montgomery: Alabama
Does the English Earl get credit for all of the American places named Montgomery?
Nope. That distinction goes to Richard Montgomery, an Irish-born Major General who fought for the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He’s the inspiration behind the city in Alabama, as well as a dozen counties and a smattering of smaller places, too.
Of course, the Alabama city has all sorts of other meanings today. It’s the place where Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a city bus led to the boycott that become a pivotal moment in the civil rights struggle. The Civil Rights Memorial stands downtown. And the historic 1965 Selma Civil Rights marches ended in Montgomery.
It makes this a surname, but also a place name rich with significance.
Montgomery: Clift
Here’s another association for the name: a leading man of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Montgomery Clift.
Born Edward Montgomery Clift and known as Monty, he had major roles in movies like From Here to Eternity, The Misfits, and A Place in the Sun. He racked up four Academy Award nominations, including one for his work in Judgment at Nuremberg.
Clift’s name is a story. His mother was adopted as a baby, or so said Edward Montgomery, the doctor who delivered her. The good doctor also told her that her parents were from a prominent Southern family. If true, Clift was descended from Montgomery Blair, a member of Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet, as well as other Washington notables. Clift’s mother named Monty after the doctor.
Montgomery: Ward
Then there’s the former department store, founded by Aaron Montgomery Ward in 1872.
Ward hit on the idea of mailing a catalog – at first, just a list – to rural areas, and allowing residents to order goods delivered by train. Ward faced opposition from rural retailers, and lost his first inventory in the Great Chicago Fire. But he ultimately proved successful, paving the way for fellow catalog giant Sears, and becoming a household name. In the 1920s, Montgomery Ward became better known for its stores – though they’re no longer in business.
Montgomery: Given Name
An actor, a store, a revolutionary war general – does any of this translate to a child’s name?
Yes.
Montgomery has a long history of steady use. In 2013, 82 boys and 19 girls were given the name. Back in 2000, those numbers were 78 boys and 13 girls, and in 1990, 36 boys.
All of this makes Montgomery an on-trend surname name that isn’t trendy. It has the same feel as Lincoln or Kennedy, Harrison or Wesley, but it remains under the radar.
If you’re after a distinguished choice for a son, Montgomery might be one to consider.
Madelyn says
March 15, 2015 at 3:48 PMWhen I was a small child, I met a boy named Monty. He, however, was not a Montgomery or Montefiore; he was a Montana!
Hettie says
March 11, 2015 at 5:35 PMThe only immediate association I have with Montgomery as a given name is Montgomery Burns from the Simpsons! :/ I don’t think I could shake that mental image enough to use it.
Madelyn says
March 15, 2015 at 3:46 PMTotally with you! I automatically thought of Mr. Burns, making it off limits for me too.
Sarah G says
March 11, 2015 at 2:54 PMThere is also Field Marshal Montgomery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Montgomery,_1st_Viscount_Montgomery_of_Alamein which is the one we actual named our son after. Indirectly it was also the name of a character in a 90’s tv series ‘Darling Buds of May’ who was named after the Field Marshal and brought it to our attention. Thanks for the post Abby!
B says
March 11, 2015 at 7:07 AM“Edward Montgomery, the doctor who delivered her. The good doctor also told her that her parents were from a prominent Southern family. If true, Clift was descended from Montgomery Blair, a member of Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet, as well as other Washington notables. Clift’s mother named Monty son after the doctor.”
You word in the last sentence of the paragraph is a tad confusing…. Is there suppose to be a comma after Monty? As in: Clift’s mother named Monty, [her] son after the doctor, or was his mother named Monty as well?
Also, how did she know which prominent Southern family she belonged too, was there really only one prominent family? That would mean that she was an illegitimate child. Technically, if she knew which prominent family than her son was named after both, or was the rest of that info garned later on?
I do like Montgomerie/Montgomery. It is very manly and distinguished. It has less annunciation issues than Montegue, but has more of a lavish spelling and sound, and is more familiar than Montmorency. Montefiore, as Lilac suggested, is another great Monty connection.
appellationmountain says
March 11, 2015 at 5:10 PMOops – “son” was a stray word in that sentence. It should read (and now does read) “Clift’s mother named Monty after the doctor.”
The doctor told Mrs. Clift exactly which family she was said to be descended from, but it’s a long, complicated story – and veers miles away from Montgomery. It’s said that Ethel, known as Sunny, was the illegitimate daughter of Woodbury Blair. To the best of my knowledge, the Blair family never acknowledged her. But Sunny’s older son, William Brooks Clift, Jr., and his wife Eleanor named their son Woodbury Blair Clift. And it was a huge factor in how the Clift kids were raised – trips to Europe, private tutors – even though they weren’t all that wealthy. So … not really relevant to the name, but completely fascinating, isn’t it?
B says
March 13, 2015 at 10:04 PMYes it is very fascinating!
Lilac says
March 11, 2015 at 5:15 AMI love the old-timey vibe of Montgomery, and I really like Monty as a nickname – I went to school with one, though that was short for Montefiore!
appellationmountain says
March 11, 2015 at 6:20 AMMontefiore – now that’s a gorgeous and storied surname!
Lilac says
March 11, 2015 at 2:52 PMIsn’t it! And he had a brother called Cospatric – obviously a family of bold namers!
Elizabeth Johnson says
March 11, 2015 at 2:22 AMScotty from Star Trek was named Montgomery.
appellationmountain says
March 11, 2015 at 6:18 AMNO! He was? He was! I never knew! Thank you for adding that, Elizabeth.