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

Way, 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 Way surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Way in America

Way is the 2552nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Way surname appeared 14,157 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 Way.

We can also compare 2010 data for Way 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 Way

The surname Way is an English habitational name that originated in the Anglo-Saxon period, derived from the Old English word 'weg' meaning road or path. It likely referred to someone who lived near a major roadway or pathway.

The name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'de la Waye' and 'atte Waye', indicating individuals who lived near a road or path. These early spellings suggest the name was initially a descriptive byname before becoming hereditary.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is John atte Waye, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. The name was also found in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, where Walter de la Waye was listed in 1199.

The Way surname is connected to several place names in England, including Way in Berkshire, derived from the Old English 'weg', and Waye in Dorset, which appears in records as early as the 13th century.

Notable historical figures with the surname Way include:

1. Sir Richard Way (c.1510-1585), an English diplomat and Lord Lieutenant of Dorset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. Benjamin Way (1670-1753), an English Baptist minister and author of theological works.
3. Lewis Way (1772-1844), an English engraver and illustrator known for his work on the "Copper Plate Magazine."
4. Albert Way (1805-1874), an English antiquary and co-founder of the Archaeological Institute.
5. Arthur Lewis Way (1847-1923), an English clergyman and author, known for his work on the Authorized Version of the Bible.

The Way surname has a long and diverse history, with its origins rooted in the Anglo-Saxon landscape and its bearers leaving their mark across various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Way

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

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

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

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