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

Caffey, 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 Caffey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Caffey in America

Caffey is the 10751st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Caffey surname appeared 2,968 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Caffey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Caffey 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 Caffey

The surname "Caffey" is believed to have originated in England, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. One of the earliest recorded instances of this name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Caffey" or "Caffay," possibly derived from an Old English word meaning "a place near a stream."

In the 12th century, the name "Caffey" was primarily concentrated in the counties of Staffordshire and Warwickshire, where it was often associated with small villages or manors located near rivers or streams. Notable figures from this era include Sir Robert Caffey, a knight who fought in the Third Crusade (1189-1192), and William Caffey, a landowner mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1194.

As the centuries passed, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as "Caffie," "Caffaye," and "Caffaye" appearing in various records. One of the earliest documented instances of the modern spelling "Caffey" can be found in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, dated 1568, where a certain John Caffey was recorded as a resident.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Caffey name gained prominence in the English counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Notable figures from this period include Sir Edward Caffey (1547-1624), a wealthy landowner and member of the Parliament of England, and Margaret Caffey (1592-1663), a pioneering writer and poet whose works explored themes of nature and spirituality.

In the 18th century, the Caffey family established roots in the American colonies, with several members emigrating from England to the New World. One of the earliest recorded Caffeys in America was Thomas Caffey (1710-1782), who settled in Virginia and became a prosperous tobacco farmer.

As the 19th century dawned, the Caffey name continued to spread across the United States, with families settling in various regions, including the Deep South and the Midwest. Notable figures from this era include Captain James Caffey (1801-1875), a naval officer who served in the War of 1812, and Sarah Caffey (1823-1901), a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights.

Throughout its long and varied history, the surname "Caffey" has been borne by numerous individuals who have left their mark on various fields, including politics, literature, military service, and social reform. While the name's origins may be rooted in the English countryside, its legacy has spanned continents and centuries, reflecting the rich tapestry of human experience.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Caffey

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

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

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

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