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

Catabay, 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 Catabay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Catabay in America

Catabay is the 71886th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Catabay surname appeared 271 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 Catabay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Catabay 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 Catabay

The surname CATABAY has its origins in the Philippines, specifically in the Visayan region of the central islands. The name likely emerged during the late 16th or early 17th century when Spanish colonization and influence was spreading through the archipelago.

CATABAY is believed to be derived from the Visayan words "kata" meaning "to cut" and "bay" referring to a type of palm tree or palm frond. It is speculated that the surname may have been assigned to individuals involved in the harvesting or processing of palm fronds for thatching or weaving purposes.

Early records of the CATABAY surname can be found in church registries and land ownership documents from the towns and municipalities of the Visayan islands, particularly in the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, and Leyte. One of the earliest known references is Juan CATABAY, a landowner and farmer in the town of Argao, Cebu, born around 1650.

During the 18th century, the CATABAY name gained prominence with the rise of a family from the town of Siaton, Negros Oriental. This branch of the CATABAY clan produced several notable figures, including Gregorio CATABAY (1732-1812), a respected community leader and landowner, and his son, Pedro CATABAY (1767-1842), who served as a local government official.

In the 19th century, the CATABAY surname appeared in historical records related to the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. Antonio CATABAY (1824-1898) was a prominent revolutionary leader from the town of Dalaguete, Cebu, who participated in the Visayan uprisings of the 1890s.

As the CATABAY name spread across the Philippines, it also gained recognition in various fields. Mariano CATABAY (1876-1942) was a renowned writer and poet from Negros Oriental, known for his works in the Visayan language. Meanwhile, Josefa CATABAY (1892-1978) was a celebrated educator and advocate for women's rights, hailing from Cebu City.

Throughout its history, the CATABAY surname has been associated with diverse professions and contributions to Philippine society, ranging from agriculture and governance to literature and education. While the name's origins can be traced back to the central Visayan islands, it has since become a part of the rich tapestry of Filipino surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Catabay

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

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

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

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