Explore the Family Name Abay
The meaning of Abay
1. Ethiopian: from the Tigrinya and Amharic personal name Abay, which is interpreted as ‘big, great’ in the Tigrinya language and is also the Ethiopian (Amharic) name for the Blue Nile. — Note: Since Ethiopians do not have hereditary surnames, this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. 2. Turkish: from the personal name Abay of Turkish or Turkic origin, interpreted as e.g. ‘skill’ or ‘awareness’, also ‘big brother’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Abay in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Abay has significantly increased over a span of ten years, beginning in 2000. The rank of this name leaped from 73,412th place in 2000 to 48,800th in 2010, indicating an upturn of about 33.53 percent. The count of people bearing the surname Abay also rose by approximately 75.61 percent, from 246 in 2000 to 432 in 2010. Consequently, the proportion of individuals with this last name per 100,000 people surged by around 66.67 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #73,412 | #48,800 | 33.53% |
| Count | 246 | 432 | 75.61% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.15 | 66.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Abay
Turning to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that there was a substantial shift in the ethnicity associated with the surname Abay between 2000 and 2010. While the highest percentage change was shown within the Black community at an increase of 42.12 percent, the other ethnic groups depicted a decline. Asian/Pacific Islanders decreased by -15.48 percent, Whites by -32.25 percent, and Hispanics by -36.61 percent. For those identifying with two or more races and American Indian and Alaskan Natives, the data was suppressed for privacy.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 47.56% | 67.59% | 42.12% |
| Hispanic | 17.89% | 11.34% | -36.61% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 12.6% | 10.65% | -15.48% |
| White | 15.04% | 10.19% | -32.25% |
| Two or More Races | 6.91% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |