Kaye
A variant of Kay, derived from Old English or Welsh, meaning "rejoice" or "keeper of the keys."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 10,008 Americans carry the last name Kaye. That puts it at #4,113 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.92 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 34,248 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kaye surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
10K
1 in 34,248
Census rank
#4,113
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
8.6K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 8,627 bearers of the surname Kaye in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.92 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4113th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kaye, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kaye
The surname Kaye originated in the region of Normandy in France. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "caye," which referred to a small quay or landing place along a river or coast. This suggests that the name may have been occupational in origin, likely referring to someone who worked at or lived near a quay.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Kaye can be traced back to the 11th century in Normandy. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, contains several entries with variations of the name, such as "de la Caye" and "de Kaye."
As the Normans expanded their influence across Europe, the name Kaye spread to various regions, including England and Scotland. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John de Kaye, a Norman knight who accompanied William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
The name Kaye has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Sir John Kaye (1783-1858) was a British military historian and author who wrote extensively on the British Empire in India. Sir Joseph Kaye (1815-1886) was an English lawyer and Conservative politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1871.
Another prominent figure was John William Kaye (1814-1876), a British historian and author best known for his works on the British Indian Empire. He served as a professor of history at the East India Company College and later became the secretary of the Political and Secret Department of the India Office.
In the realm of literature, Sir John Kaye-Lethbridge (1847-1930) was an English writer and journalist who published several novels and short stories under the pen name "Walter Herries Pollock."
The name Kaye has also been associated with various place names, such as Kaye's Cottage in Gloucestershire, England, and the village of Kaye in Newfoundland, Canada.
While the name Kaye originated in Normandy, it has since spread across various regions and cultures, with bearers of the name making significant contributions in fields such as military, politics, literature, and academia.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kaye
Among Census respondents with the surname Kaye, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Kaye bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Kaye surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- Black or African American1.8%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kaye surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,113 | #4,113 | 0.0% |
| Count | 8,627 | 8,627 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.92 | 2.92 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Kaye bearers went from 8,627 to 8,627 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #4,113 to #4,113.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kaye
FAQ
Kaye surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kaye?
The surname Kaye holds position #4,113 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 10,008 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.92 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kaye surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kaye, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (3.7%) and Hispanic (2.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.