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

Fuquay, 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 Fuquay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fuquay in America

Fuquay is the 27277th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fuquay surname appeared 886 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 Fuquay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fuquay 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 Fuquay

The surname Fuquay originates from France, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "fouquet," which means a small bundle or package. This could suggest that the name may have been initially associated with someone who worked as a peddler or merchant, carrying bundles of goods.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fuquay surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings in England, compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Fouquet," which was a common spelling variation at the time.

During the 13th century, the name Fuquay was prominent in the regions of Normandy and Brittany in northern France. Records from this period show various spellings, such as "Fouquay," "Fouquet," and "Foucquet," reflecting the fluidity of name spellings before standardization.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Jean Fuquay (1420-1488) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Rouen, Normandy. His success in trade and property acquisition contributed to the recognition of the Fuquay name in the region.

Another historical reference to the Fuquay surname can be found in the 16th century, when a family bearing this name settled in the village of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, near the city of Caen in Normandy. The village's name was often recorded as "Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer Fuquay," indicating the family's significant presence in the area.

In the 17th century, a French Huguenot named Pierre Fuquay (1632-1701) fled religious persecution and sought refuge in England. He and his family subsequently settled in the county of Kent, where they established themselves as respected members of the local community.

During the 18th century, the Fuquay surname gained prominence in the United States, with several individuals bearing this name making notable contributions. One such figure was Benjamin Fuquay (1745-1821), a successful merchant and landowner in North Carolina, after whom the town of Fuquay-Varina was named.

Another notable individual was Elizabeth Fuquay (1768-1842), a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in Pennsylvania. Her efforts in promoting education for women were widely recognized and celebrated.

In the 19th century, the Fuquay surname continued to spread across various regions of the United States. One prominent figure was William Fuquay (1818-1892), a respected lawyer and judge in Illinois, who played a significant role in shaping the state's legal system.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fuquay

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

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

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

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