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

Couey, 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 Couey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Couey in America

Couey is the 16166th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Couey surname appeared 1,788 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 Couey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Couey 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 Couey

The surname Couey has its origins in France, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old French word "couet," which means "a small hill" or "a hillock." The name was likely given to someone who lived near or on a small hill.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Couey can be found in various medieval records and documents from the regions of Normandy and Brittany in northern France. Some of the oldest spellings of the name include Coué, Couet, and Couayt.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Couey surname was Jean Couey, a Norman nobleman who lived in the late 12th century. He was mentioned in the Cartulaire de Fécamp, an ancient manuscript compiled by the monks of the Fécamp Abbey in Normandy.

In the 13th century, the Couey name appeared in the Livre des Bourgeois de Rouen, a record of the prominent citizens of the city of Rouen. This document listed several individuals with the surname Couey, indicating that the name had become well-established in the region.

During the Middle Ages, the Couey family played a significant role in the history of Brittany. One notable member was Olivier de Couey, a Breton knight who fought alongside Joan of Arc in the Hundred Years' War. He was born around 1400 and died in battle in 1429.

Another prominent figure with the Couey surname was Guillaume de Couey, a French architect and master builder who lived in the 15th century. He was responsible for the construction of several notable churches and castles in Normandy and the surrounding areas.

In the 16th century, the Couey name was found in the records of the Parlement de Normandie, a high court of justice in the Duchy of Normandy. One such individual was Jean Couey, a lawyer and judge who served in the court during the reign of King Francis I.

Over the centuries, the Couey surname has spread beyond France to other parts of Europe and the world, with various branches of the family establishing themselves in different regions. However, its origins can be traced back to the small hills and hilly areas of northern France, where the name first emerged.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Couey

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

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

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

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