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

Shoy, 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 Shoy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shoy in America

Shoy is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shoy surname appeared 105 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 Shoy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shoy 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 Shoy

The surname Shoy is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from a place name or an occupational term. It may have evolved from the Old English word "sceoh," meaning "shy" or "timid," suggesting that the name might have been initially used as a descriptive nickname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Shoy surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Schoies" in the county of Gloucestershire. This entry indicates that the name was already in use in England before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

During the 13th century, the spelling variations "Shoye" and "Shoy" emerged in various historical documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273. These records suggest that the name may have been associated with certain locations or settlements, possibly originating from a now-lost or obscure place name.

In the 14th century, the Shoy surname gained prominence with the birth of Sir John Shoy (c. 1320 – 1380), a notable English knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He fought in several battles, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346, and his bravery and military achievements brought recognition to the Shoy name.

Another significant figure bearing the Shoy surname was Elizabeth Shoy (c. 1480 – 1552), a wealthy landowner and benefactor from Lincolnshire. She is recorded as having donated substantial funds for the construction of a church and a school in her local community, leaving a lasting legacy.

During the 16th century, the Shoy surname appeared in various parish records and legal documents across different regions of England, indicating its widespread distribution. One notable individual from this period was William Shoy (c. 1520 – 1590), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London.

In the 17th century, the Shoy surname was associated with the village of Shoyswell in Oxfordshire, a place name that may have derived from the same linguistic roots as the surname itself. This connection suggests that the Shoy family may have originated from or held significant influence in this area.

Throughout the centuries, the Shoy surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military personnel. However, due to the limited historical records available, it is challenging to provide an exhaustive list of notable figures bearing this surname across different time periods and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shoy

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

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

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

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