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

Jaye, 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 Jaye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jaye in America

Jaye is the 31150th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jaye surname appeared 745 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 Jaye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jaye 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 Jaye

The surname JAYE has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "gai," meaning joyful or lively, which may have been used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone with a cheerful demeanor.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where a Richard Gaye was listed as a landowner. The spelling variations during this period included Gaye, Gay, and Jaye, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings before they became standardized.

In the 14th century, records show instances of the name appearing in various parts of England, suggesting a widespread distribution. For example, a Richard Jaye was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, while a Thomas Jaye was recorded in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1362.

The name JAYE is also associated with several notable historical figures. One such figure was John Jaye, a 16th-century English clergyman and author, born around 1520, who wrote several religious works, including "An Exposition of the Apostles' Creed" and "The Overthrow of the Gout." Another prominent individual was Sir Walter Jaye, a 17th-century English politician and landowner, born in 1603, who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton.

In the realm of literature, the name JAYE is linked to the renowned 18th-century English poet and essayist, John Gay, born in 1685. He is best known for his works such as "The Beggar's Opera" and "Trivia, or the Art of Walking the Streets of London."

Additionally, the surname JAYE has been associated with several notable places throughout history. For instance, the village of Gay Street in Somerset, England, is believed to have derived its name from the JAYE family who owned lands in the area during the medieval period.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname JAYE include Robert Jaye, a 15th-century English merchant and alderman of London, and Henry Jaye, a 17th-century English actor and playwright who worked with the renowned dramatist, William Shakespeare.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jaye

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

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

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

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