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

Makai, 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 Makai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Makai in America

Makai is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Makai surname appeared 107 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 Makai.

The history of the last name Makai

The surname MAKAI originated in Hungary and has its roots in the Hungarian language. It is believed to have derived from the Hungarian word "makai," which means "belonging to or from Maka." Maka was a medieval village located in the central region of Hungary.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname MAKAI can be traced back to the 15th century. In 1423, a document from the town of Szeged mentioned a certain Péter Makai, who was likely a resident or landowner from the village of Maka. Another early reference was found in the 1456 census records of the town of Kecskemét, which listed a family named Makai among its residents.

In the 16th century, the surname MAKAI appeared in several historical documents and records. The 1522 tax records of Pest County listed several individuals with the surname Makai, suggesting that the name had already spread beyond its original village. Additionally, a 1578 land deed from the town of Kalocsa mentioned a János Makai as a landowner.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname MAKAI was Gáspár Makai (c. 1570-1631), a Hungarian poet and teacher who authored several religious works and poetry collections. Another notable figure was Gergely Makai (1634-1703), a Calvinist minister and church historian who wrote extensively about the history of the Protestant Reformation in Hungary.

In the 18th century, the surname MAKAI continued to be found in various parts of Hungary. István Makai (1718-1786) was a prominent lawyer and judge who served in the High Court of Pozsony (now Bratislava). Judit Makai (1751-1823) was a renowned herbalist and folk healer from the village of Tiszabecs, whose remedies and treatments were widely sought after in the region.

The 19th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals with the surname MAKAI. Sándor Makai (1825-1897) was a Hungarian politician and journalist who served as a member of the National Assembly and advocated for press freedom. Emília Makai (1855-1923) was a celebrated opera singer who performed in major opera houses across Europe, including the Vienna State Opera and the Hungarian State Opera House.

While the surname MAKAI has its roots in the Hungarian village of Maka, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration. However, the historical records and notable individuals mentioned above provide a glimpse into the rich history and heritage associated with this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Makai

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

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 Makai 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.

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

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

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