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

Bobay, 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 Bobay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bobay in America

Bobay is the 63373rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bobay surname appeared 315 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 Bobay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bobay 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 Bobay

The surname Bobay has its origins in France, dating back to the early 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "bobée," meaning a simple meal or a light snack. This term likely referred to a family or individual who was associated with the preparation or selling of such foods.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the parish records of the Normandy region, where variations like "Bobais" and "Bobaie" appeared. It is possible that the name originated as a nickname or occupational descriptor for someone involved in the culinary trade or working in a tavern or inn.

One notable historical reference to the Bobay surname comes from the Parisian tax rolls of 1598, where a certain Jacques Bobay is listed as a resident of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district. This suggests that the name had already established itself in the capital city by the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name began to spread to other parts of France, including the Burgundy region, where the village of Bobay-sur-Ouche bears a striking resemblance to the surname. It is likely that this place name was derived from the family name, rather than the other way around.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the Bobay surname was Jean Bobay (1585-1658), a merchant and trader from Rouen, who was known for his successful import-export business with England and the Low Countries.

Another prominent figure was Marguerite Bobay (1620-1698), a renowned midwife and herbalist from Lyon, who was widely respected for her expertise in traditional medicine and her compassionate care for mothers and infants.

In the 18th century, the Bobay name gained recognition through the works of the writer and philosopher, François Bobay (1723-1802), whose essays on ethics and social reform were influential during the Age of Enlightenment.

The 19th century saw the emergence of the artist and sculptor, Jules Bobay (1842-1919), who was celebrated for his intricate wood carvings and intricate architectural designs, many of which can still be seen adorning churches and public buildings across France.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning the pioneering aviator, Émile Bobay (1878-1946), who was among the first aviators to successfully cross the English Channel in a hot air balloon, paving the way for future advancements in aeronautics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bobay

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

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

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

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