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

Loy, 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 Loy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Loy in America

Loy is the 4006th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Loy surname appeared 8,868 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Loy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Loy 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 Loy

The surname LOY has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "loh," meaning a small hill or mound. Alternatively, it may also have stemmed from the Old English word "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest.

One of the earliest records of the LOY surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners in England. The name was listed as "de Loye," referring to someone who hailed from a place called Loy or Loye.

The LOY surname is closely associated with the village of Loy in Essex, England. This place name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "loh" or "leah," further strengthening the connection between the surname and its geographical roots.

In the 13th century, a man named Richard de Loye was recorded as a landowner in the county of Essex. He is one of the earliest known individuals to bear the LOY surname.

Another notable figure with the LOY surname was Sir John Loy, who lived during the 15th century and served as a military commander in the Wars of the Roses. He fought alongside the House of Lancaster and was renowned for his bravery on the battlefield.

During the 16th century, the LOY surname gained prominence through the works of the English poet and playwright, Thomas Loy (1539-1605). His writings were widely acclaimed and helped to establish the surname's literary legacy.

In the 17th century, the LOY surname was associated with the village of Loy in Somerset, England. A prominent figure from this era was Sir Edward Loy (1618-1687), who served as a Member of Parliament and was known for his involvement in local politics.

Another well-known individual with the LOY surname was the English botanist, John Loy (1672-1737). He made significant contributions to the study of plants and is credited with the discovery of several new species.

As the LOY surname spread across England, it also took on various spellings, such as Loye, Loy, and Loie. These variations reflect the regional dialects and linguistic changes that occurred over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Loy

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

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

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

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