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

Gaye, 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 Gaye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaye in America

Gaye is the 17447th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaye surname appeared 1,616 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 Gaye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gaye 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 Gaye

The surname GAYE originated in France and dates back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "gai," which means "joyous" or "cheerful." The name likely referred to a person with a happy or lively disposition.

The earliest recorded instances of the name GAYE can be found in various documents from the 12th and 13th centuries, such as tax rolls, property records, and parish registers. One notable example is the mention of Robert Gaye in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1195.

During the Middle Ages, the name GAYE was primarily concentrated in the northern regions of France, particularly in Normandy and Picardy. As people began to migrate and settle in different areas, the name spread to other parts of the country and beyond.

One of the earliest known bearers of the GAYE surname was Jean Gaye, a French poet and playwright who lived in the 15th century. His works, including the comedy "La Farce de Maître Pierre Pathelin," were influential in the development of French Renaissance literature.

In the 16th century, the name GAYE appeared in various records across Europe, such as the Domesday Book in England and the Stadtbuch (City Book) of Cologne, Germany. This suggests that individuals with this surname had already begun to migrate and establish themselves in other regions.

Notable historical figures with the surname GAYE include:

1. Jacques Gaye (1528-1586), a French magistrate and diplomat who served as the ambassador to England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. Pierre Gaye (1676-1754), a French architect and engineer known for his work on the Château de Versailles and the Château de Fontainebleau.
3. Antoine Gaye (1741-1823), a French composer and music theorist who wrote several treatises on harmony and counterpoint.
4. Marie-François-Louis Gaye (1762-1834), a French botanist and explorer who participated in several scientific expeditions to South America and the Caribbean.
5. Louis-André Gaye (1792-1860), a French general who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a member of the French Académie des Sciences.

While the surname GAYE has its roots in France, over the centuries it has spread to various parts of the world, including other European countries, North America, and beyond, as individuals with this name migrated and established new communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaye

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

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

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

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