Explore the Family Name Buhay
The meaning of Buhay
1. Filipino: nickname or ornamental name from buhay, a word which means ‘life’ in various languages of the Philippines. 2. Ukrainian and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): variant of Bugay. 3. Americanized form of Polish and Slovak Buhaj: from buhaj ‘(pedigree) bull’, a variant of bugaj (see Bugaj).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Buhay in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Buhay has seen an increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 67,725th in terms of frequency but climbed to 59,901st position by 2010, indicating a change of 11.55%. The count of individuals carrying this last name also grew from 272 to 337 over the same period, marking a rise of 23.9%. This growth is reflected in the proportion per 100k people, which moved up from 0.1 to 0.11, signifying a 10% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #67,725 | #59,901 | 11.55% |
| Count | 272 | 337 | 23.9% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.11 | 10% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Buhay
The ethnic identity associated with the Buhay surname, as revealed by the Decennial U.S. Census, demonstrates certain shifts over the decade from 2000 to 2010. The majority of Buhays identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, growing from 52.94% to 55.79%, a 5.38% increase. Those identifying as belonging to two or more races decreased from 2.21% to 1.78%, a decrease of 19.46%. Individuals who identify as White formed the second largest group, although their representation fell from 42.65% to 39.47%, a decrease of 7.46%. Over the same decade, the presence of Hispanic individuals emerged at 1.78%, whereas before there were none reported. However, there were no changes in the categories of Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native, remaining at 0% throughout.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 52.94% | 55.79% | 5.38% |
| White | 42.65% | 39.47% | -7.46% |
| Two or More Races | 2.21% | 1.78% | -19.46% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.78% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |