Find out how popular the last name Asay is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Asay.

Asay, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Asay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Asay in America

Asay is the 13603rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Asay surname appeared 2,227 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Asay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Asay to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Asay

The surname ASAY is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from the place name "Esshe" or "Asshe," which was a village located in the county of Essex, England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ASAY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Assi" or "Assy." This ancient record provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during the Norman conquest of England.

The name ASAY is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "æsc" or "esc," meaning "ash tree," suggesting that the original bearers of this surname may have resided near or been associated with an area abundant in ash trees.

In the 13th century, records show individuals bearing the name ASAY, such as William de Ashe, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1278. This document, which recorded land transfers and legal agreements, provides evidence of the name's continued use during this period.

Notable historical figures who bore the surname ASAY include John Asay (1597-1663), an English clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Shrawton in Wiltshire. Another prominent individual was Sir Robert Asay (1618-1692), a Member of Parliament who represented the constituency of Thetford in Norfolk during the 17th century.

In the 16th century, the name ASAY underwent various spelling variations, such as Ashe, Asshe, and Aish, reflecting the inconsistencies in written records and regional dialects of the time. This diversity in spelling also suggests the name's widespread use across different regions of England.

One notable individual from this period was John Ashe (1534-1609), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset. He was also appointed as the Recorder of Bristol and played a crucial role in the city's governance during the late 16th century.

Another noteworthy figure was Thomas Ashe (1618-1678), an English writer and Anglican clergyman who authored several religious works, including "The Unmasker Unmasked" and "A Seasonable Discourse concerning Submission to the Present Government."

Throughout its history, the surname ASAY has maintained a strong presence, particularly in England and its surrounding regions, reflecting the rich cultural and historical heritage associated with this ancestral name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Asay

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Asay.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Asay was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Asay has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Asay was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Asay, please contact us.

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