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

Nahay, 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 Nahay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nahay in America

Nahay is the 116829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nahay surname appeared 149 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 Nahay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nahay 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 Nahay

The surname NAHAY originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region now known as Punjab, during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "nahi," meaning "no" or "not," suggesting a potential connection to a person's occupation or a locality.

One of the earliest records of the name NAHAY can be found in the 16th-century Mughal Empire's administrative documents, where it was mentioned as a family name associated with traders and merchants in the region. The name's spelling variations at the time included Nahai, Nahaye, and Nahaia.

In the 17th century, the NAHAY surname appeared in several Persian manuscripts and chronicles, indicating the presence of individuals bearing this name in various parts of northern India. One notable figure from this era was Rahim Nahay, a renowned poet and scholar who lived from 1620 to 1688 and was celebrated for his contributions to Urdu literature.

During the British colonial period in India, the NAHAY surname was documented in various administrative records and censuses. In 1857, a prominent figure named Govind Nahay played a significant role in the Indian Rebellion against British rule, earning recognition for his leadership and bravery.

Another historical reference to the NAHAY name can be found in the late 19th century, when Sardar Bakhtawar Singh Nahay, born in 1865, served as a respected military officer in the British Indian Army. His distinguished service earned him several honors and commendations.

In the early 20th century, the NAHAY surname gained further prominence with the birth of Jaswant Singh Nahay in 1901. He went on to become a renowned educationist and social reformer, dedicating his life to the upliftment of marginalized communities and advocating for educational opportunities for all.

While the NAHAY surname has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, historical records and references to this name remain primarily concentrated in the regions of South Asia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nahay

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

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

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

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