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

Kay, 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 Kay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kay in America

Kay is the 1467th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kay surname appeared 24,337 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Kay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kay 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 Kay

The surname Kay originated in England and Scotland, derived from the Norman French word 'caye' meaning a causeway or wharf. It emerged as an occupational surname for someone who lived or worked near a quay or dock area.

The name can be traced back to the 12th century, with early records showing variations like Key, Kaye, and Keye. One of the earliest known references is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mentions a Ralph de Kaye.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the name is absent, suggesting it emerged later as a surname during the Norman period. However, there are mentions of places like Kaye in Yorkshire, which may have influenced the name's development.

The Kay surname has strong ties to Lancashire and Yorkshire, particularly in areas like Rochdale, Oldham, and Halifax. Place names like Kayingham and Kayeworth were likely associated with the surname's origins.

Notable historical figures with the surname include Sir John Kay (1616-1676), a British merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London. Another prominent figure was Joseph Kay (1775-1847), a noted inventor who revolutionized the textile industry with his flying shuttle.

Robert Kay (1638-1716) was a renowned English botanist and naturalist, while John Kay (1742-1826) was a celebrated English caricaturist and engraver known for his satirical prints.

John Phillips Kay (1827-1886) was a British surgeon and medical writer who made significant contributions to the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

The Kay surname has a rich history rooted in England's medieval past, with connections to occupations, places, and notable individuals who have left their mark across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kay

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

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

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

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