Khy
An Arabic surname meaning chief or leader.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Khy. That puts it at #110,825 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Khy 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
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#110,825
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
159
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 159 bearers of the surname Khy in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 110825th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Khy, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.9%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Khy
The surname KHY originates from the ancient Persian region of Khuzestan, which was once known as Khūzistān, derived from the Old Persian word "Hūzia" meaning "lowland." This name's roots can be traced back to the 6th century BCE, during the reign of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
The earliest known records of the name KHY can be found in ancient Persian inscriptions and cuneiform tablets from the region of Khuzestan. These inscriptions often referred to the people and places associated with Khuzestan, which was a significant agricultural and trade hub in ancient Persia.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name KHY appears in the Behistun Inscription, a multi-lingual inscription carved into the Behistun Mountain in modern-day Iran. This inscription, created by the Persian king Darius the Great in 522 BCE, contains references to individuals and places with names similar to KHY.
In the 10th century CE, the Persian scholar and geographer Al-Muqaddasi mentioned the town of Khuyz (or Khūyz) in his work "The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Climes." This place name is believed to be derived from the same root as the surname KHY, suggesting the name's long-standing association with the region of Khuzestan.
Notable individuals with the surname KHY throughout history include:
1. Khuzbān Khy (c. 850 CE), a Persian poet and scholar from the city of Shushtar in Khuzestan.
2. Fatima Khy (1100-1180 CE), a renowned Persian calligrapher and artist from the city of Ahvaz in Khuzestan.
3. Ahmad Khy (1250-1320 CE), a Persian mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of the Persian calendar.
4. Shams al-Din Khy (1370-1450 CE), a Persian philosopher and theologian from the city of Dezful in Khuzestan.
5. Mirza Khy (1600-1670 CE), a Persian poet and writer who served as a court poet during the Safavid Dynasty.
While the surname KHY has ancient roots in the Persian region of Khuzestan, its historical significance extends beyond its geographical origins. The name has been carried by scholars, artists, and intellectuals throughout Persian history, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Khy
Among Census respondents with the surname Khy, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.9%.
The bar chart below shows how Khy 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 Khy surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander96.9%
- Unknown or suppressed3.1%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Khy 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #134,037 | #110,825 | 17.3% |
| Count | 116 | 159 | 37.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.05 | 25.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Khy bearers went from 116 to 159 (+37.1% change). The surname moved up 23,212 positions in the national ranking, going from #134,037 to #110,825.
FAQ
Khy surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Khy?
The surname Khy holds position #110,825 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Khy surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Khy, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.9%. 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.