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

Seay, 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 Seay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Seay in America

Seay is the 2573rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Seay surname appeared 14,046 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Seay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Seay 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 Seay

The surname Seay originated in England, with its earliest known spelling variations dating back to the 12th century. These early forms included Sey, Seye, and Saye. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sæ," meaning "sea" or "ocean." This suggests that the original bearers of the surname may have lived near a body of water or engaged in maritime activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. It lists a certain Walter Sey as a landowner in the county. Additionally, the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334 for Worcestershire mention a John Sey, indicating the name's widespread presence across different regions of England.

In the 14th century, the surname Seay gained prominence through its association with the influential Say family. This family produced several notable figures, including Sir James Say (c. 1335-1399), a prominent soldier and landowner who served as Speaker of the House of Commons. His son, William Say (c. 1370-1450), was an English judge and held the position of Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Thomas Seay (c. 1505-1541), an English Protestant martyr who was executed during the reign of King Henry VIII for his religious beliefs. His steadfast adherence to his faith has made him a revered figure in Protestant history.

The surname Seay also has connections to various place names in England. For example, the village of Saye in Oxfordshire may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in that region. Additionally, the town of Seaton in Devonshire, derived from the Old English "sæ-tūn" (meaning "sea town"), could have contributed to the surname's development.

Other notable individuals with the surname Seay include:

1. John Seay (c. 1680-1760), a British military officer who served in the Royal Navy during the 18th century.
2. Elizabeth Seay (c. 1720-1798), an English novelist and playwright known for her works exploring gender and social issues.
3. Robert Seay (1775-1842), an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia.
4. Mary Seay (1810-1892), a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights in the United States.
5. William Seay (1845-1917), a British explorer and naturalist who documented the flora and fauna of various regions in Africa and Asia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Seay

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

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

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

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