 It is believed to have been named either for Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, or for the Welsh county of Montgomeryshire (which was named after one of William the Conqueror's main counselors, Roger de Montgomerie), as it was part of the Welsh Tract, an area of Pennsylvania settled by Quakers from Wales.Early histories of the county indicate the origin of the county's name as uncertain.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.9%) is covered by water.