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

Koay, 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 Koay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koay in America

Koay is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koay surname appeared 112 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 Koay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Koay 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 Koay

The surname KOAY is believed to have originated from the Fujian province of China, specifically the Hokkien-speaking regions. It is derived from the Hokkien word "khau," which means "bay" or "inlet." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with a particular geographical location or a coastal settlement.

In ancient Chinese records, the name KOAY can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), where it was spelled using different Chinese characters. During this period, surnames were closely tied to occupations, place names, or physical characteristics, reflecting the cultural and social norms of the time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname KOAY was Koay Seng-Tat (1025-1093 CE), a renowned scholar and poet from Quanzhou, a coastal city in Fujian. His works were included in various imperial anthologies, and he was celebrated for his profound literary contributions.

Another notable figure was Koay Beng-Huat (1547-1621 CE), a prominent merchant and trader from the Ming Dynasty. He established trade routes between China and Southeast Asia, facilitating the exchange of goods and cultural influences.

During the late 19th century, Koay Siew-Leng (1854-1932 CE) emerged as a influential figure in the Straits Settlements (present-day Malaysia and Singapore). He was a successful businessman and philanthropist, actively supporting education and community development initiatives.

In the 20th century, Koay Teng-Kok (1912-1988 CE) gained recognition as a pioneering architect in Malaysia. His works blended traditional Malay and Chinese architectural styles, creating iconic buildings that celebrated the country's diverse cultural heritage.

Koay Soo-Ngoh (1928-2001 CE) was a prominent Malaysian politician and statesman. He served as a member of parliament and held various ministerial positions, playing a crucial role in the nation's development and policymaking.

While the KOAY surname has its roots in China, it has since spread to various parts of Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia and Singapore, where it is commonly found among the Chinese diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koay

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

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

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

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