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

Bolay, 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 Bolay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bolay in America

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

The Bolay 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 Bolay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bolay 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 Bolay

The surname BOLAY has its origins in France and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to derive from the Old French word "bolay," which means "bush" or "thicket." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who lived near a dense growth of bushes or shrubs.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BOLAY surname appears in the Armorial Général, a collection of heraldic arms compiled in France in the late 17th century. This suggests that the BOLAY family had achieved a degree of nobility or prominence by that time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Jean BOLAY (1492-1558) was a French Protestant theologian and one of the earliest translators of the Bible into French. His work contributed significantly to the spread of Protestantism in France during the Reformation.

Another historical figure bearing this surname was Pierre BOLAY (1619-1693), a French painter and engraver known for his intricate etchings and engravings of religious subjects. His works can be found in several museums and collections across Europe.

In the 19th century, a French author and poet named Auguste BOLAY (1832-1891) gained recognition for his romantic and contemplative works, which often explored themes of nature and the human condition.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the BOLAY surname in North America dates back to the late 17th century, when a family by that name settled in the French colony of Acadia (now parts of eastern Canada).

During the American Revolutionary War, a soldier named Jacques BOLAY (1745-1824) served in the Continental Army and was present at several key battles, including the Siege of Yorktown, which led to the British surrender.

While the BOLAY surname is relatively uncommon, it has been carried by notable individuals throughout history, reflecting its French origins and the diverse paths its bearers have taken across different countries and centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bolay

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

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

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

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