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

Gey, 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 Gey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gey in America

Gey is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gey surname appeared 113 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 Gey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gey 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 Gey

The surname "GEY" is believed to have originated in the Normandy region of northern France during the medieval period. It is a locative name, derived from the Old French word "gai," which means "joyous" or "gay." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a place known for its cheerful or lively atmosphere.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry "Gai de Villeret" is listed among the Norman landholders in Cambridgeshire.

During the 12th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "de Gay," "de Gai," and "de Gey," indicating its French origins. Many bearers of this name likely arrived in England following the Norman Conquest in 1066, where they settled and established their presence.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert de Gey was recorded as a landowner in Oxfordshire. He is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls, a collection of administrative records from the reign of King Edward I.

Another prominent individual bearing this surname was Sir John Gey, a English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France during the 14th century. He was knighted for his valor in the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various spellings, including "Gaye," "Gaye," and "Gey." During this time, a William Gey was recorded as a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, England.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Thomas Gey (1505-1556) was a prominent English Protestant reformer and Protestant martyr. He was executed during the reign of Queen Mary I for his religious beliefs.

Across the centuries, variations of the surname have been found in different regions of England, Scotland, and Ireland, suggesting that bearers of the name had spread across the British Isles. Some notable spelling variations include "Gey," "Gaye," "Gay," and "Gaye."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gey

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

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

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

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