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

Passey, 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 Passey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Passey in America

Passey is the 26451st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Passey surname appeared 923 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 Passey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Passey 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 Passey

The surname Passey originates from England, with its earliest records dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "passe," meaning "pass" or "passage," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a mountain pass or a narrow passage.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Passey can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named William Passey is mentioned. This document provides evidence that the name was already in use in medieval England.

During the 13th century, the name Passey appeared in various records across different counties in England, including Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Somerset. Some variations of the spelling included Passy, Passi, and Passye, reflecting the diverse phonetic interpretations of the name at the time.

In the 14th century, the surname Passey was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, where a John Passey was listed as a taxpayer. This record highlights the presence of the name in southern England during this period.

One notable individual bearing the surname Passey was Sir John Passey, who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was a prominent figure in Gloucestershire and served as the Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1498. His name is recorded in various historical documents, including the Gloucestershire Inquisitions Post Mortem from 1515.

Another significant figure was Robert Passey, born in 1598 in Oxfordshire. He was a renowned Puritan minister and author, known for his religious works such as "The Spiritual Chymist" and "The Faithful Minister." Passey played a significant role in the religious landscape of 17th-century England.

In the 18th century, the name Passey was linked to the village of Passey in Gloucestershire, suggesting a possible connection between the surname and a specific geographic location.

Among other notable individuals with the surname Passey were William Passey (1608-1679), an English clergyman and author from Gloucestershire, and John Passey (1636-1717), a prominent merchant and philanthropist from Wiltshire.

Throughout its history, the surname Passey has been associated with various occupations and social standings, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name across different regions of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Passey

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

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

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

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