Montgomery

Montgomery is both a surname and a place name used in the English-speaking world. It originates from a Norman-French toponym, Montgomerie or Montgomeri, associated with the town of Montgomery in Powys, Wales. The English form Montgomery spread through Britain and abroad with settlement, giving rise to many places named Montgomery in the United States and elsewhere. In some cases the name was adopted in honor of General Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War officer who died in 1775.

Montgomery, Alabama is the state capital and largest city of Alabama. Founded in 1819, it was named after General Richard Montgomery. The city sits on the Alabama River and developed into a major commercial and transportation hub. It is renowned for its role in the Civil Rights Movement, most notably the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955–56 that helped catalyze national civil rights efforts.

The name Montgomery is widely used in the United States for counties, towns, and communities. Montgomery County occurs in many states, including Maryland, Texas, and Ohio, among others, often named for General Montgomery. Other places include Montgomery in New York, Maryland’s Montgomery Village, and various unincorporated areas.

Notable people with the name include Montgomery Clift, an American actor (1920–1966), and James Montgomery, a British hymn writer and poet (1771–1854). The surname Montgomery is common in English-speaking countries and appears in politics, arts, science, and sports, while the given name Montgomery is used less frequently today but remains present in historical and fictional contexts.