Explore the Family Name Begay
The meaning of Begay
Native American (Navajo): from an American English spelling of the Navajo word biyeʼ (also bigheʼ) ‘his son’. In most cases, this was originally part of longer personal names, coming after the father’s name. It was attributed to Navajos by whites who mistook it for a surname. Begay is the most common surname of Native American origin in general. Compare Bia 1. History: In the novel Code Talker, the author Joseph Bruchac described how a young Navajo got the surname Begay: when he introduces himself to the priest at boarding school as Dághaa’łbáhí biye’ ‘son of the One with a Gray Mustache’, the priest says “Huh, another Begay” and writes his name down as Begay.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Begay in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Begay has slightly increased from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Begay was the 2066th most popular surname in the United States with a count of approximately 16,076 individuals, which amounts to about 5.96 per 100,000 people. By 2010, it climbed to the 2053rd spot, totalling around 17,553 individuals or about 5.95 per 100,000. This represents a modest increase of 0.63 in rank and a 9.19% rise in count, despite a slight decrease of -0.17 in proportion per 100,000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,066 | #2,053 | 0.63% |
| Count | 16,076 | 17,553 | 9.19% |
| Proportion per 100k | 5.96 | 5.95 | -0.17% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Begay
When looking at ethnic identity associated with the surname Begay, data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that the majority identify as American Indian and Alaskan Native. However, this figure decreased slightly from 94.98% in 2000 to 93.84% in 2010. The second most common ethnicity associated with the surname is White, which grew by 22.64%, from 1.59% to 1.95%. The proportion identifying as Hispanic also increased significantly, up by 29.93% from 1.37% to 1.78%. Meanwhile, those identifying as Black and Asian/Pacific Islander rose by 46.67% and 20.83% respectively, although they still make up less than 1% of individuals with the Begay surname. Notably, people identifying with two or more races have also increased by 12.58%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 94.98% | 93.84% | -1.2% |
| White | 1.59% | 1.95% | 22.64% |
| Hispanic | 1.37% | 1.78% | 29.93% |
| Two or More Races | 1.51% | 1.7% | 12.58% |
| Black | 0.3% | 0.44% | 46.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.24% | 0.29% | 20.83% |