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

LeVay, 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 LeVay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of LeVay in America

LeVay is the 39281st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The LeVay surname appeared 560 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 LeVay.

We can also compare 2010 data for LeVay 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 LeVay

The surname Levay is of Hungarian origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Hungarian word "lévai," which refers to someone from the town of Léva, located in present-day Slovakia. The name is believed to have originated as a locative surname, indicating the place of origin or residence of the bearer.

In the early records of Hungary, the name Levay appeared in various spellings, such as Lévai, Levayi, and Levay. One of the earliest documented instances of the surname can be found in a 13th-century manuscript from the Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma, where a certain "Petrus de Leva" was mentioned.

During the 15th century, the Levay family rose to prominence in Hungary, with several members holding influential positions within the nobility. Notably, János Levay (1458-1524) served as the Bishop of Veszprém and played a significant role in the religious and political affairs of the kingdom.

As the Levay family expanded, some members settled in other regions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, including present-day Slovakia and Romania. In the 16th century, a branch of the family established itself in Transylvania, where Mihály Levay (1540-1618) became a respected scholar and author, known for his works on theology and philosophy.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Levay was József Levay (1825-1918), a celebrated Hungarian poet and translator. His contributions to Hungarian literature earned him recognition and a place among the most influential writers of the 19th century.

In the 20th century, the Levay surname gained international recognition through the accomplishments of László Levay (1904-1983), a renowned Hungarian-American architect. His works, including the design of the iconic Pan Am Building in New York City, exemplified his innovative approach and left a lasting impact on modern architecture.

Throughout history, the Levay surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, scholars, writers, architects, and more. While the name may have originated in a specific region of Hungary, its legacy has transcended borders, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and intellectual landscape of multiple countries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name LeVay

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

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

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

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