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

Sy, 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 Sy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sy in America

Sy is the 7473rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sy surname appeared 4,457 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Sy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sy 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 Sy

The surname "SY" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to derive from the Old English word "sae," meaning "sea" or "lake," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sae." This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as "Sey," "Seye," and "Seey." These variations were likely due to the inconsistent nature of spelling and record-keeping at the time.

The surname "SY" has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was William Sy (1265-1335), a renowned scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Oxford. Another was Sir John Sy (1410-1478), a prominent landowner and member of the English gentry.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the form "Sye" in the records of the parish of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. This suggests that the name may have been present in the area during Shakespeare's time.

During the 17th century, the name "SY" was found in various parts of England, including the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Robert Sy (1625-1692), a successful merchant and landowner.

The 18th century saw the emergence of several individuals with the surname "SY" who made significant contributions to various fields. Among them was Samuel Sy (1730-1799), a renowned botanist and naturalist who catalogued numerous plant species.

In the 19th century, the name "SY" continued to be found in various parts of England, as well as in other English-speaking countries such as the United States and Canada. One notable figure was Emily Sy (1845-1923), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

Throughout its history, the surname "SY" has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, landowners, merchants, scientists, and activists. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the mobility and diversity of human populations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sy

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

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

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

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