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

Legay, 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 Legay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Legay in America

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

The Legay 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 Legay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Legay 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 Legay

The surname LEGAY originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "legai," which means "gay" or "carefree." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname given to someone with a cheerful or lighthearted demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the LEGAY surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population throughout England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Le Gay," which was a common spelling variation during that time.

By the 13th century, the name had spread to various regions of France, with notable concentrations in Normandy and Brittany. Several place names in these areas, such as Le Gai and Le Gué, share a similar etymology and may have contributed to the emergence of the LEGAY surname.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure named Jean LEGAY (1320-1390) was a respected physician and scholar who served as the personal doctor to King Charles V of France. His contributions to the field of medicine and his close association with the French monarchy helped to establish the LEGAY name as one of prestige and distinction.

Another notable LEGAY was Pierre LEGAY (1475-1532), a French cleric and theologian who played a significant role in the Catholic Reformation movement. He was known for his efforts to reform the clergy and promote a more spiritual and disciplined way of life within the Church.

During the 16th century, the LEGAY surname gained further recognition with the achievements of Jacques LEGAY (1540-1610), a skilled architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Hôtel de Ville and the Church of St. Gervais et St. Protais.

In the 18th century, Marie-Anne LEGAY (1721-1784) was a celebrated French actress who performed at the Comédie-Française, one of the most prestigious theaters in Paris. Her talent and popularity contributed to the cultural significance of the LEGAY name during that era.

One of the more recent historical figures with the LEGAY surname was Émile LEGAY (1857-1918), a French engineer and pioneer in the field of aviation. He was instrumental in the development of early aircraft designs and played a crucial role in the advancement of aeronautical technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Legay

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

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

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

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