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

Clay, 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 Clay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clay in America

Clay is the 708th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clay surname appeared 48,844 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 17 people would have the surname Clay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clay 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 Clay

The surname CLAY is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "claeg," meaning "clay" or "earth." It was initially used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near clay-rich land or worked with clay as a potter or brickmaker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CLAY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a person named William de la Claye was listed as a landowner in Oxfordshire. The "de la" prefix suggests that this individual resided near a location with clay-rich soil.

During the Middle Ages, variations of the name, such as Cley, Cleye, and Claie, were also found in various records and documents. These spellings reflect the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Thomas de la Clay was recorded as a prominent landowner in Derbyshire. The place name "Clay Cross" in Derbyshire is believed to have derived from his family name and landholdings.

Another early bearer of the name was Sir John Clay, a renowned soldier who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. He was knighted for his valor on the battlefield by King Edward IV.

During the 17th century, a prominent family with the surname CLAY lived in Nottinghamshire. One member, Jeremiah Clay (1623-1695), was a prominent Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious texts.

In the 18th century, Henry Clay (1777-1852) was an influential American statesman and politician. He served as the ninth Secretary of State and was a leading figure in the Whig Party. His political career spanned several decades, and he was a influential figure in shaping American foreign and domestic policies.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Josiah Clay (1820-1893), an English industrialist and philanthropist. He made significant contributions to the development of the coal and iron industries in the West Midlands region of England.

Throughout history, the surname CLAY has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, soldiers, clergymen, statesmen, and industrialists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and occupations of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clay

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

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

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

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