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

Esmay, 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 Esmay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Esmay in America

Esmay is the 73911th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Esmay surname appeared 262 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 Esmay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Esmay 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 Esmay

The surname Esmay is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from a combination of the Old English words "ees" meaning "ash tree" and "mæg" meaning "kinsman" or "relative." This suggests that the name was initially used to identify individuals or families who lived near or had some connection with an ash tree grove.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Esmay surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is listed as "Esmaie." This historical document provides valuable insight into the evolution of surnames during the medieval period and their association with specific locations or occupations.

In the 14th century, the surname appears to have gained popularity in the southern counties of England, particularly in Dorset and Somerset. The Esmay family is mentioned in several local records from this period, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and the Court Rolls of Taunton from 1348.

One notable bearer of the Esmay name was Sir John Esmay, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in Dorset during the 15th century. Records indicate that he was born around 1420 and served as a member of the local gentry, playing an active role in the administrative affairs of his county.

Another individual of historical significance was William Esmay, born in 1534 in Somerset. He was a respected scholar and theologian who studied at the University of Oxford and later became a canon of Wells Cathedral. His writings and sermons from the late 16th century provide valuable insights into the religious and intellectual climate of the time.

In the 17th century, the Esmay surname gained recognition through the work of Richard Esmay, a renowned cartographer and mapmaker. Born in 1612 in Dorset, he is credited with creating some of the most detailed and accurate maps of the English countryside during his lifetime, contributing significantly to the field of cartography.

As the centuries progressed, the Esmay name continued to spread across England, with some families eventually migrating to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. Notably, Thomas Esmay, born in 1758 in Somerset, was a prominent figure in the early days of British colonization in Australia, serving as a government surveyor and exploring vast territories in the late 18th century.

Throughout its long history, the Esmay surname has been associated with various professions, from landowners and scholars to cartographers and explorers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Esmay

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

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

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

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