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

Ney, 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 Ney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ney in America

Ney is the 9848th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ney surname appeared 3,285 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ney 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 Ney

The surname "Ney" originates from France and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "noyer," meaning "walnut tree." The name was likely adopted as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near a walnut tree or grove.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of France, including Normandy, Burgundy, and the Île-de-France. The name appeared in various forms, such as Nei, Nay, and Ney, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Robert Ney, a French nobleman who lived in the late 12th century. He was mentioned in several charters and land records from the region of Normandy.

In the 14th century, the name was found in the famous Domesday Book, a comprehensive land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book recorded a landowner named Radulfus de Neio, indicating the existence of the name in England during the Norman conquest.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Ney. One of the most famous was Michel Ney (1769-1815), a French military leader and Marshal of France during the Napoleonic Wars. He earned the nickname "The Bravest of the Brave" for his courage and military achievements.

Another prominent figure was Élie Ney (1634-1705), a French Protestant minister and theologian known for his contributions to the development of Huguenot theology.

In the realm of literature, Virgil Ney (1899-1963) was an American novelist and short story writer who gained recognition for his works set in the American South.

The surname Ney has also been associated with places, such as the village of Ney in Belgium, which likely derived its name from a person bearing the surname.

Étienne Ney (1772-1818) was a French general who served under Napoleon and played a significant role in several battles during the Napoleonic Wars.

It is important to note that while the surname Ney has a rich history and has been borne by notable individuals throughout the centuries, the specific details and origins may vary based on different sources and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ney

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

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

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

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