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

Say, 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 Say surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Say in America

Say is the 9803rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Say surname appeared 3,302 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 Say.

We can also compare 2010 data for Say 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 Say

The surname Say is believed to have originated in England, deriving from the Old English word "saec," which means "quarrel" or "dispute." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was known for being argumentative or prone to conflicts.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the late 12th century in various counties across England, such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a mention of a Richard le Say in Oxfordshire.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appeared in various forms, including Saye, Seye, and Seie, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era. One notable figure from this period was Geoffrey de Say, who lived in the late 13th century and held lands in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

In the 15th century, the name was associated with the Say family of Berkshire, a prominent noble family that held significant influence and wealth. Sir John Say, born in 1420, was a member of this family and served as a courtier to King Henry VI.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Say. However, it does mention several places with similar-sounding names, such as Saham in Norfolk and Saighton in Cheshire, which may have influenced the development of the surname.

Moving forward to the 16th century, the name gained prominence with individuals like William Say, a renowned Elizabethan playwright and poet born in 1552 in Worcestershire. Another notable figure was Sir John Say, born in 1545, who served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire and played a role in the Gunpowder Plot investigations.

In the 17th century, the surname was associated with prominent figures such as Samuel Say, an English clergyman and author born in 1625, and Benjamin Say, an English physician and naturalist born in 1670.

By the 18th century, the name had spread beyond England, with individuals like Jean-Baptiste Say, a French economist and businessman born in 1767, who made significant contributions to the field of economics and is considered one of the founders of the classical political economy.

Throughout history, the surname Say has been linked to various notable individuals across different fields, including politics, literature, science, and economics, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Say

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

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

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

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