Montoya is of Spanish and Basque origin, derived from the word 'montaña', meaning mountain. It was historically used as a surname, but has also been adopted as a given name in some regions. The name Montoya appears to have been brought to prominence by the famous Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés, who had a brother named Francisco Montoya. Today, Montoya is still predominantly used in Spain and Latin America, but it can be found worldwide.
"Montoya saw its peak popularity between 1972 and 1974 with over 12 births per year. After 1978, the name's usage significantly declined, averaging around 6 births annually until 2005."