Explore the Family Name Belay
The meaning of Belay
1. Ethiopian: from the personal name Belay, meaning ‘on top’ in the Amharic language. — Note: Since Ethiopians do not have hereditary surnames, this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. 2. Americanized form of Slovenian and Croatian Belaj: nickname for a fair-haired or pale-skinned man, derived from Slovenian bel, Croatian bijel ‘white, light, fair’. 3. Slovak: variant of Belaj, a cognate of 2 above, derived from a dialect form of the adjective biely ‘white, light, fair’. Some characteristic forenames: Ethiopian Dawit, Ermias, Fana, Haile, Yared, Abeba, Amare, Amha, Anteneh, Ayele, Eyassu, Fetlework.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Belay in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Belay has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked at 39,885 but jumped to 27,144 in 2010, a change of 31.94%. The count also reflected this surge in popularity as it escalated from 518 to 892, an increase of 72.2%. The proportion of this surname per 100,000 people similarly grew by 57.89%, from 0.19 to 0.3.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,885 | #27,144 | 31.94% |
| Count | 518 | 892 | 72.2% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.19 | 0.3 | 57.89% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Belay
The same Decennial U.S. Census provides intriguing insights into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Belay. The percentage of individuals identifying as Black with this surname rose sharply, from 72.01% in 2000 to 87% in 2010, a growth of 20.82%. Meanwhile, there has been a notable decrease in the number of individuals identifying as White or two or more races. The proportion of those identifying as White dropped by 39.88%, from 16.60% in 2000 to just 9.98% in 2010. Those reporting as two or more races also fell dramatically, decreasing by 81.51% from 8.49% in 2000 to 1.57% in 2010. There was a small representation of Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity noted for the first time in 2010 at 1.12%. No individuals identified as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72.01% | 87% | 20.82% |
| White | 16.6% | 9.98% | -39.88% |
| Two or More Races | 8.49% | 1.57% | -81.51% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.12% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 1.16% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |