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

Kyi, 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 Kyi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kyi in America

Kyi is the 31873rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kyi surname appeared 724 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 Kyi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kyi 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 Kyi

The surname "KYI" is believed to have originated in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) in Southeast Asia. It is an ancient name that can be traced back to the Bamar ethnic group, one of the major ethnic groups in Myanmar.

The name "KYI" is thought to be derived from the Burmese word "kyi," which means "small" or "little." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname or a reference to someone's stature or youthfulness.

Historical records indicate that the name "KYI" appeared in various manuscripts and chronicles from the Bagan period (11th to 13th century), which was a golden age for Burmese culture and literature. It is believed that some of the earliest known individuals with this surname lived during this era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "KYI" can be found in the Hmannan Yazawin, a chronicle of the Bagan Kingdom written in the 16th century. The chronicle mentions several individuals with the surname "KYI," suggesting that the name was well-established by that time.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Maha Kyi Nyo (1688-1756) was a successful merchant and philanthropist who donated generously to religious causes and helped rebuild pagodas and monasteries in Myanmar.

During the Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885), the name "KYI" was associated with several notable individuals, including Kyi Wun Min Gyi (1758-1831), a high-ranking official and military leader who played a crucial role in the expansion of the Burmese Empire.

Another notable figure was Kyi Wun Mingyi U Hpyu (1812-1887), a renowned author and literary scholar who wrote extensively on Burmese literature, grammar, and culture.

In more recent times, the name "KYI" has been carried by individuals such as Aung San Suu Kyi (born 1945), the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and prominent political figure in Myanmar's pro-democracy movement.

Overall, the surname "KYI" has a rich history in Myanmar, with roots that can be traced back to ancient times. It has been associated with various notable individuals throughout the centuries, spanning different fields and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kyi

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

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

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

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