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

Cayette, 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 Cayette surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cayette in America

Cayette is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cayette surname appeared 100 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 Cayette.

The history of the last name Cayette

The surname Cayette traces its origins to France, with the earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "cayette," which referred to a small wooden box or crate used for storing or transporting goods.

In the medieval period, surnames were often derived from occupations, geographic locations, or descriptive nicknames. The Cayette surname likely originated as a reference to someone who made or worked with these small wooden boxes, perhaps a carpenter or a merchant involved in the transportation of goods.

One of the earliest documented instances of the Cayette surname can be found in the records of the city of Lyon, France, from the year 1567. The entry mentions a certain Jean Cayette, a merchant who was involved in the trade of textiles and other goods.

As the surname spread across France, it underwent various spelling variations, including Cayette, Cayatte, and Caillette. These variations were influenced by regional dialects and the evolving nature of the French language over time.

In the 17th century, the Cayette name appeared in the records of the French colony of Acadia (present-day eastern Canada). One notable individual was François Cayette, born in 1643, who was among the first French settlers in the Acadian region.

Another prominent figure with the Cayette surname was Jacques Cayette, a French military officer who fought in the French and Indian War (1754-1763). He was born in 1720 and played a significant role in the defense of French settlements in North America.

During the 19th century, the Cayette surname also found its way to the United States, likely through immigration from France and French-speaking regions of Canada. One notable American bearing this surname was William Cayette (1822-1898), a businessman and politician from Pennsylvania who served as a member of the state legislature.

Other historical figures with the Cayette surname include Marie-Louise Cayette (1789-1868), a French author and educator known for her contributions to children's literature, and Henri Cayette (1861-1937), a French architect renowned for his work on several notable buildings in Paris.

While the Cayette surname may not be among the most common in the world, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and multiple countries, reflecting the movements and contributions of those who bore this name throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cayette

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

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 Cayette 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.

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

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

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