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

Sey, 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 Sey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sey in America

Sey is the 62359th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sey surname appeared 321 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 Sey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sey 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 Sey

The surname SEY originated in Germany during the medieval period, derived from the Old German word "sieg," meaning "victory" or "triumph." It likely emerged as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who had achieved notable victories or displayed exceptional bravery in battle.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, appearing in various regions of present-day Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony. One of the first documented references to the surname is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, which mentions a knight named Heinrich Sey in the year 1287.

In the 14th century, the name gained prominence with the rise of the Sey family, a noble lineage based in the Rhineland region. Notable members of this family include Ritter Johann Sey (1320-1392), a distinguished knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War, and his son, Konrad Sey (1355-1418), who served as a courtier to the Archbishop of Cologne.

As the centuries passed, the surname spread across various parts of Europe, with slight variations in spelling, such as Seys, Seye, and Seyd. One notable bearer of the name was the Dutch painter Jan Seys (1592-1651), renowned for his landscapes and biblical scenes.

In the 17th century, the name found its way to England, where it was sometimes anglicized as "Sey." One of the earliest recorded English bearers was William Sey (1637-1701), a merchant and landowner from Hertfordshire.

Another significant figure was the French philosopher and writer Joseph-Isidore Samson Sey (1736-1799), known for his contributions to the Enlightenment movement and his work on the philosophy of education.

Over the centuries, the surname SEY has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, military leaders, and entrepreneurs. While not as common as some other surnames, it has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of Europe and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sey

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

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

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

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