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

Ayes, 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 Ayes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ayes in America

Ayes is the 108734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ayes surname appeared 163 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ayes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ayes 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 Ayes

The surname Ayes is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the Old English word "aye," which means "ever" or "always." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was considered to be steadfast or unwavering.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Ayes can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Ayes." This suggests that the name had already been established by the 13th century, although it may have existed earlier in slightly different spellings.

In the 14th century, the surname Ayes appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a certain John Ayes is mentioned in 1348. This record provides evidence of the name's presence in different regions of England during the medieval period.

The name Ayes is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which were records of taxation. This indicates that individuals bearing the surname were present in various parts of the country and were of sufficient means to be included in such records.

One notable individual with the surname Ayes was Sir John Ayes, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 15th century. He was born around 1420 and served as a justice of the peace for Gloucestershire during the reign of King Henry VI.

Another noteworthy figure was Richard Ayes, a merchant and alderman who lived in London during the 16th century. He was born in 1534 and played an active role in the governance of the City of London, holding various positions within the municipal government.

In the 17th century, a clergyman named Thomas Ayes gained recognition for his scholarly works. Born in 1620, he was educated at Oxford University and later became the rector of Wilton-upon-Wye in Herefordshire. He published several theological treatises and sermons during his lifetime.

The surname Ayes can also be found in various historical records from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as parish registers, wills, and census records. These documents provide insights into the geographic distribution and occupations of individuals bearing the name during those time periods.

It is worth noting that the surname Ayes has also been associated with place names in certain regions of England, such as the village of Ayes in Lincolnshire. However, the direct connection between the surname and these place names is not entirely clear, and further research would be required to establish a definitive link.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ayes

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

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 Ayes 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 Ayes 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 Ayes was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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