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

Kays, 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 Kays surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kays in America

Kays is the 11086th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kays surname appeared 2,863 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kays.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kays 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 Kays

The surname KAYS is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "cægc" or "keys," which referred to a keeper of keys or a gatekeeper. This occupation-based surname likely emerged among those employed as gatekeepers or caretakers of castles, manors, or other important buildings.

In the early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Keyes, Kayes, and Kays, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327, where a certain John Keyes is mentioned.

The KAYS surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers was Sir John Kays, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century (c. 1420-1495). He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1491 and was known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in supporting the education of underprivileged children.

Another significant figure was Robert Kays (1639-1716), an English mathematician and astronomer. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and made valuable contributions to the study of comets and planetary motion. His work was highly regarded by his contemporaries, including Sir Isaac Newton.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with Samuel Kays (1756-1825), an English poet and essayist. He gained recognition for his pastoral poetry and wrote extensively on various topics, including politics and philosophy.

The KAYS surname also has connections to the military. One notable individual was General Sir John Kays (1790-1865), a distinguished British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became the Governor of the Ionian Islands (1849-1859).

Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir Henry Kays (1820-1898), a British colonial administrator and diplomat. He served as the Governor of the Straits Settlements (present-day Singapore, Malaysia, and Penang) from 1867 to 1873 and played a crucial role in the development of the region.

While the KAYS surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. The name can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where descendants of English immigrants have continued to carry this historical surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kays

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

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

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

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