Nady
A habitational surname likely derived from a place name meaning "happy valley".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Nady. That puts it at #109,258 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Nady surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#109,258
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
162
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 162 bearers of the surname Nady in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 109258th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Nady, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.5%. The next largest groups are Black (17.9%) and Hispanic (3.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Nady
The surname NADY is believed to have originated in Germany, with the earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "nad," which means "needle," suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname for a needlemaker or tailor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the NADY surname can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Nady is mentioned as a master tailor in 1547. This lends credence to the theory that the name was initially associated with the needle-making or tailoring trade.
In the 17th century, the NADY surname appears to have spread to other parts of Germany, with records showing families with this name residing in cities such as Dresden and Hamburg. During this time, variations in spelling, such as "Naddy" and "Nadey," also began to emerge.
The NADY surname gained further prominence in the 18th century, with several notable individuals bearing this name. One such person was Johann Gottfried Nady (1710-1784), a renowned German organist and composer who served as the court organist for the Prince of Nassau-Usingen.
As the centuries progressed, the NADY surname spread beyond the borders of Germany, with families bearing this name settling in other parts of Europe and eventually in the United States. One notable American bearer of the NADY surname was William Nady (1822-1898), a successful businessman and landowner in Pennsylvania.
Another prominent figure with the NADY surname was Maximilian Nady (1857-1924), an Austrian military officer who served as a general in the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I. His memoirs, published posthumously, provide valuable insights into the military campaigns of that era.
In more recent times, the NADY name has continued to be represented in various fields, with individuals such as the American engineer and inventor Benjamin Nady (1931-2010), who held numerous patents for audio equipment and was a pioneer in the field of wireless microphone technology.
While these are just a few examples, the NADY surname has a rich history that spans centuries and continents, with roots that can be traced back to the skilled tradesmen and artisans of medieval Germany.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Nady
Among Census respondents with the surname Nady, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.5%. The next largest groups are Black (17.9%) and Hispanic (3.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Nady bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Nady surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White76.5%
- Black or African American17.9%
- Hispanic or Latino3.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Nady surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #109,258 | #109,258 | 0.0% |
| Count | 162 | 162 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Nady bearers went from 162 to 162 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #109,258 to #109,258.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Nady
FAQ
Nady surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Nady?
The surname Nady holds position #109,258 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Nady surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Nady, the largest self-reported group is White at 76.5%. The next largest groups are Black (17.9%) and Hispanic (3.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.