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

Woy, 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 Woy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woy in America

Woy is the 60347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woy surname appeared 334 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 Woy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woy 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 Woy

The surname Woy originates from Central and Eastern Europe, most notably from Poland and the surrounding regions. Its roots can be traced back to the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century. The surname likely has connections with Slavic languages, where it may be derived from the word "woj," meaning "warrior" or "soldier." This connection suggests that individuals bearing the surname Woy were likely associated with military service or had ancestors who were warriors.

In historical records, variations of the surname Woy have been found, such as Woj, Wój, and Voy. These variations reflect the linguistic and regional differences in spelling practices during that era. One of the earliest references to the surname appears in Polish court documents from the late 15th century, implying that the name had established some prominence by that time. Names such as Wojciech and Wojcik, which include elements similar to Woy, also offer insight into the surname's etymological development.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Woy was Jan Woy, a landowner documented in the 16th century in the vicinity of Kraków, Poland. His presence in property records from 1531 highlights the surname's prominence within this local community. Historical records from the area also mention a Kasper Woy, who served as a local magistrate in Warsaw in the early 17th century, suggesting the surname had spread to different parts of Poland over several generations.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in various governmental and ecclesiastical records. Notably, in 1783, a priest named Father Marek Woy was documented in the town register of Poznań, indicating that the surname was associated with both civic and religious roles. The inclusion of Woy in priestly records suggests that the name had diversified beyond purely military origins.

Moving into the 19th century, the surname Woy crossed national boundaries due to geopolitical changes and migrations. An influential figure from this period was Adam Woy, born in 1812, who became a well-known educator and author in Vienna. His work contributed significantly to academic circles in Austria and expanded the presence of the surname into intellectual and cultural spheres.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the name had additional occurrences in various parts of Europe. Józef Woy, born in 1876, was a notable artist from Lviv, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is now in Ukraine. His depictions of rural life brought recognition to the Woy name within the artistic community.

These historical references and notable individuals highlight the evolution and spread of the surname Woy over centuries. The surname, with its warrior roots and multiple regional variations, has demonstrated significant adaptability and integration into various facets of society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woy

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

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

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

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