Earliest Montalvos in the Carbbean

The MONTALVOS were in the Caribbean as early as the 1630's. The surname comes from Monte=hill and Albo=white. One theory is that it refers to a region in Spain, where the surname originated. It also appears in Italy spelled the same way. Another variation in Italy is spelled MONTALBANO. The surname was most likely brought over by migrating families from Italy to Spain. So some of their Spanish descendants must have sailed to the Caribbean. In Spain the surname is also spelled MONTALBÁN. All these are variations of the same surname.
One of the first members of these families to appear in local documents in Puerto Rico was Don Francisco MONTALVO who is mentioned as one of the first settlers in San German. He was a magistrate in 1688. Another was Captain Don Diego MONTALVO who was mayor of San German 1n 1683.
The Montalvos from Cabo Rojo were prominent families in their communities. Cabo Rojo was a ward of San German in those early years. San Juan was the other important city.