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

Palay, 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 Palay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Palay in America

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

The Palay 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 Palay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Palay 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 Palay

The surname PALAY originated from the Philippines, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Tagalog word "palayan," which means "rice field" or "rice paddy." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who worked or lived in areas dedicated to rice cultivation.

The name PALAY can be traced back to various historical records from the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines, such as parish registers and land ownership documents. It has been found in several regions of the archipelago, particularly in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac, which were known for their thriving rice cultivation during that time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PALAY can be found in the "Libro de las Casadas" (Book of Marriages) from the town of Malolos, Bulacan, which dates back to the late 16th century. It mentions a certain Juan PALAY who married Maria de la Cruz in 1586.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name PALAY appeared in various land grants and property records, indicating that families with this surname owned or worked on rice fields and farms. For example, in 1712, a document from the municipality of Mexico, Pampanga, mentions a certain Mateo PALAY who was granted a parcel of land for rice cultivation.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname PALAY, one can mention:

1. Mariano PALAY (1824-1892), a prominent landowner and community leader from Bulacan, who played a significant role in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule.
2. Feliciano PALAY (1853-1923), a renowned poet and playwright from Pampanga, whose works explored the themes of love, nature, and social commentary.
3. Josefa PALAY (1879-1945), a pioneering educator and women's rights advocate from Tarlac, who established one of the first schools for girls in the region.
4. Lorenzo PALAY (1892-1968), a celebrated visual artist from Bulacan, known for his vibrant paintings depicting rural life and landscapes.
5. Marcelo PALAY (1918-2001), a renowned composer and musician from Pampanga, who contributed significantly to the development of Filipino folk music.

The surname PALAY continues to be present in various parts of the Philippines, particularly in the regions mentioned above, where it has a rich historical and cultural significance associated with the country's agricultural heritage and rice cultivation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Palay

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

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

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

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