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

Tsay, 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 Tsay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tsay in America

Tsay is the 35147th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tsay surname appeared 641 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 Tsay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tsay 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 Tsay

The surname TSAY has its origins in China, with records of the name dating back to the 14th century during the Ming Dynasty. The name is believed to have derived from the Chinese word "cai," which means wealth or prosperity. It was a common practice in ancient China to adopt surnames that reflected aspirations or values.

One of the earliest known references to the TSAY surname can be found in the "Qing Bai Lei Chao," a historical text compiled during the Ming Dynasty. This text mentions a prominent TSAY family from the Zhejiang province, known for their success in business and trade.

In the 16th century, a TSAY family from Fujian province gained recognition for their contributions to the arts and literature. TSAY Lun, a renowned poet and calligrapher, was born in 1522 and is celebrated for his works that showcased the beauty of nature and the human experience.

The TSAY surname also has ties to the city of Tainan in Taiwan. During the 17th century, a group of TSAY families migrated from mainland China and settled in the region, becoming influential figures in the local community.

One notable TSAY from Taiwan was TSAY Ting-Kuei, a military leader and strategist who played a pivotal role in the defense of Taiwan during the Sino-Dutch conflicts in the mid-17th century. His tactical brilliance and leadership skills earned him a place in Taiwanese history.

In the 19th century, TSAY Yun-Hsiang, a scholar and educator from Guangdong province, made significant contributions to the modernization of China's education system. His writings and reforms helped shape the country's approach to education during a time of great change.

Throughout history, the TSAY surname has been associated with various professions and achievements, from business and trade to the arts, literature, and military strategy. While the name may have evolved in its spelling and pronunciation across different regions, its roots can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty and the aspirations of prosperity and success.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tsay

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

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

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

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