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

Blay, 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 Blay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blay in America

Blay is the 21320th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blay surname appeared 1,229 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 Blay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blay 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 Blay

The surname BLAY has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "blæc," which means "pale" or "white." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a pale or fair complexion.

The name BLAY was particularly prevalent in the counties of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, where it is believed to have originated. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which list a John le Blay residing in Hertfordshire.

In the 14th century, the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327 mention a Thomas Blay living in Bedfordshire. This record provides evidence of the name's transition from the older "le Blay" spelling to the more modern "Blay" form.

The BLAY surname has also been linked to various place names, such as Blay's Grove in Hertfordshire and Blay's Farm in Bedfordshire. These locations may have been named after early BLAY families who settled or owned land in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname BLAY include:

1. John Blay (c. 1545 - 1594), an English clergyman and author who wrote treatises on theology and philosophy.
2. William Blay (1675 - 1732), a British architect known for designing several churches and country houses in the Baroque style.
3. Elizabeth Blay (1789 - 1867), a British philanthropist and social reformer who advocated for the education of women and the abolition of slavery.
4. Thomas Blay (1818 - 1893), an English explorer and naturalist who documented the flora and fauna of various regions in Africa and Asia.
5. Charlotte Blay (1901 - 1978), an American artist and painter known for her vibrant landscapes and still life works.

While the BLAY surname has variations in spelling, such as Blaye, Blai, and Blaie, the core meaning and origin remain rooted in the Old English descriptor of pale or fair complexion.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blay

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

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

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

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