How Montreal Got Its Name: Two Competing Theories

The origin of Montreal's name has two main historical theories, both rooted in the city's early French colonial period.

Theory 1: Mount Royal (Mont Royal)

The most widely accepted explanation.

• In 1535, French explorer Jacques Cartier climbed the prominent hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River
• He named it Mont Royal ("Royal Mountain") in honor of King Francis I of France, his patron
• The name gradually transferred from the mountain to the settlement that grew at its foot
• "Montreal" evolved as a contraction of "Mont Royal" in common usage

Theory 2: Ville-Marie

The historical settlement name.

• In 1642, French colonists led by Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve founded a mission settlement called Ville-Marie ("City of Mary")
• Named in honor of the Virgin Mary, reflecting the colony's religious purpose
• The settlement was on the Island of Montreal, at the foot of Mount Royal
• Over time, the island's name (derived from the mountain) supplanted the settlement's original name

Historical Timeline

• 1535: Cartier names Mont Royal
• 1611: Samuel de Champlain uses "Montreal" on a map—the first recorded cartographic use
• 1642: Ville-Marie founded
• 18th century: "Montreal" becomes the predominant name for both city and island

Synthesis

Most historians favor Theory 1: the mountain was named first (1535), the island took the mountain's name, and the city took the island's name. Ville-Marie remained the official name of the settlement for decades but colloquially gave way to the geographic identifier. Today, Ville-Marie is the name of Montreal's central borough—a nod to the city's origins.