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

Kalayjian, 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 Kalayjian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kalayjian in America

Kalayjian is the 100302nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kalayjian surname appeared 180 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 Kalayjian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kalayjian 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 Kalayjian

The surname Kalayjian is of Armenian origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Armenian word "kalaych," meaning "tinker" or "tinsmith," indicating that the name's bearers were initially involved in the trade of working with tin or other metalsmithing crafts.

Kalayjian is a variant spelling of the more common Armenian surname Kalaydjian or Kalaydjian, which can be found in historical records and manuscripts from as early as the 14th century. The name is believed to have originated in the regions of ancient Armenia, particularly in the areas around Lake Van and the city of Ani, where metalworking and tinsmithing were prominent occupations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kalayjian can be found in the Codex Cumanicus, a linguistic manuscript from the 13th century that includes a list of Armenian personal and family names. The name is also mentioned in various Armenian chronicles and records from the medieval period, such as the works of the historian Stepanos Orbelian (c. 1250-1305).

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Kalayjian was Khachatur Kalayjian, a prominent Armenian scholar and clergyman who resided in the city of Amasia (modern-day Turkey). He was renowned for his contributions to Armenian literature and theology.

Another significant individual with the surname Kalayjian was Harutiun Kalayjian (1836-1912), an Armenian writer, educator, and advocate for women's rights. He was a pioneer in establishing schools for girls in the Ottoman Empire and played a crucial role in promoting education and social reforms within the Armenian community.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Kalayjian family name was also found among Armenian communities in various parts of the Ottoman Empire, particularly in cities like Constantinople (Istanbul), Smyrna (Izmir), and Cilicia. Some notable individuals from this period include the writer and educator Khoren Kalayjian (1858-1921) and the surgeon and philanthropist Vahan Kalayjian (1874-1956).

It is worth mentioning that the surname Kalayjian has also been associated with certain place names in historical Armenia, such as the village of Kalaydjik (meaning "little tinsmith") near the city of Van. This further highlights the connection between the name and the metalworking profession.

While the surname Kalayjian is relatively uncommon compared to other Armenian names, it holds a rich heritage and reflects the skilled craftsmanship and occupational traditions of its bearers throughout Armenian history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kalayjian

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

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

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

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