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

Bishay, 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 Bishay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bishay in America

Bishay is the 74375th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bishay surname appeared 260 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 Bishay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bishay 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 Bishay

The surname BISHAY originated in Egypt and is believed to have roots dating back to the 6th century AD. It is derived from the Egyptian Arabic word "bishai," which means "fortunate" or "lucky." The name was initially found in the region around the ancient city of Bashawi, located in the Nile Delta.

During the medieval period, the name appears in several historical records from the region, including the chronicles of the Coptic Church. One notable reference is found in a manuscript from the 11th century, which mentions a man named Bishay ibn Rizqallah, who was a prominent scholar and physician in Cairo.

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname BISHAY dates back to the 13th century, when it was used by a family of landowners in the village of Bashawi. This family was known for their wealth and influence in the area, and their name became associated with the village itself.

In the 15th century, a man named Bishay al-Masry (meaning "Bishay the Egyptian") gained fame as a skilled calligrapher and scribe. His work can be found in several manuscripts and documents from that time, including a beautifully illuminated copy of the Quran.

Another notable figure with the surname BISHAY was Youssef Bishay, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in Alexandria during the 17th century. He established a successful business exporting Egyptian goods to Europe and played a significant role in the city's economic development during that period.

During the 19th century, a family of Coptic Christians with the surname BISHAY rose to prominence in the literary and political circles of Egypt. One of the most famous members of this family was Mikhail Bishay, born in 1825, who was a renowned writer, poet, and advocate for Coptic rights.

Another important figure from this era was Boutros Bishay, born in 1845, who was a prominent lawyer and judge. He played a crucial role in shaping the legal system of modern Egypt and was known for his fair and impartial rulings.

Throughout history, the surname BISHAY has been associated with various place names and spellings, such as Bishawi, Bishay, Bishoi, and Bishai. While the name originated in Egypt, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly among the Coptic diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bishay

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

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

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

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