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

Foye, 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 Foye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Foye in America

Foye is the 14127th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Foye surname appeared 2,127 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 Foye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Foye 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 Foye

The surname Foye is believed to have originated from the French region of Normandy during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "foie," which means "faith" or "belief." The name was likely first adopted by a person with a strong religious conviction or someone known for their devotion to their faith.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Foye can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Foie," possibly referring to a Norman landowner who settled in England after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as "Foye," "Foy," and "Faye." These variations could be attributed to regional dialects or scribal errors in transcribing the name. The name was predominantly found in regions of England with a strong Norman influence, such as Sussex and Hampshire.

One notable individual with the surname Foye was Sir John Foye, a prominent English soldier and landowner who lived during the 14th century. He fought alongside Edward III in the Hundred Years' War and was granted lands in Wiltshire for his military service.

Another early recorded bearer of the name was William Foye, who was born in Somerset, England, in the late 15th century. He was a successful merchant and served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1514.

In the 16th century, the name Foye was also found in Scotland, where it was likely introduced by Norman settlers. One example is Robert Foye, a prominent Scottish landowner who lived in Aberdeenshire in the mid-1500s.

During the 17th century, the name Foye appeared in various spellings, including "Foy," "Faye," and "Foye," in records from England, Scotland, and Ireland. One notable individual from this period was Sir Edward Foy, an English lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1662 to 1676.

In the 18th century, the surname Foye was also found in France, where it may have originated. One example is Pierre Foye, a French writer and philosopher born in Marseille in 1735, who was known for his works on morality and ethics.

Throughout history, the surname Foye has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, from soldiers and landowners to merchants and scholars. While the name may have originated from the French word for "faith," its bearers have made significant contributions across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Foye

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

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

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

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