Montaigne
/mɒnˈteɪn/noun
A French surname, most famously associated with the sixteenth-century philosopher Michel de Montaigne.
Did you know?The surname is locational, ultimately referring to mountainous land, while Michel de Montaigne’s essays helped establish the modern literary form of the personal essay.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*men-
“To project or stand out, a root associated with elevated features.”
Classical Latin
Latin
mōns, montis
“Mountain or elevated landform.”
Late Latin
Latin
montānea
“Mountainous country or mountain region.”
11th–13th Century
Old French
montaigne
“Mountain; mountainous place.”
14th–16th Century
French
montagne
“Mountain, with the spelling variant montaigne continuing in names.”
16th Century–Modern English
French/English
Montaigne
“A French surname, famously borne by Michel de Montaigne.”