Explore the Family Name Callaway

The meaning of Callaway

English (of Norman origin): habitational name from Caillouet-Orgeville in Eure, France, named with a collective form of Old French cail(ou) ‘pebble’ (see Cail).

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Callaway in the United States?

Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Callaway has seen a slight fluctuation in popularity over a decade. In 2000, Callaway ranked 2481 out of all U.S surnames. However, by 2010, the rank fell to 2610, marking a decrease of 5.2%. Despite this drop in ranking, the actual count of individuals bearing the Callaway surname increased from 13,354 in 2000 to 13,819 in 2010, indicating a growth of 3.48%. The proportion per 100,000 people in the population also decreased slightly from 4.95 to 4.68, registering a fall of 5.45%.

20002010Change
Rank#2,481#2,610-5.2%
Count13,35413,8193.48%
Proportion per 100k4.954.68-5.45%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Callaway

When considering ethnic identity associated with the Callaway surname, there were notable changes between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census. The White demographic remained dominant but saw a small decrease from 80.90% to 78.33%, a change of -3.18%. Meanwhile, those identifying as Black increased by 6.81%, rising from 15.28% to 16.32%. The Hispanic group experienced the most significant growth, surging by 62.25% to account for 2.45% of the total up from 1.51%. The Asian/Pacific Islander and Two or More Races categories also saw increases, with 41.94% and 39.55% respectively. Conversely, the proportion of those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native fell slightly by 7.69%.

20002010Change
White80.9%78.33%-3.18%
Black15.28%16.32%6.81%
Hispanic1.51%2.45%62.25%
Two or More Races1.34%1.87%39.55%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.65%0.6%-7.69%
Asian/Pacific Islander0.31%0.44%41.94%

Callaway ancestry composition

23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Callaway is British & Irish, which comprises 56.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (20.8%) and Scandinavian (3.8%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Spanish & Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, and Nigerian.

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ANCESTRY BREAKDOWNCOMPOSITION
British & Irish56.9%
French & German20.8%
Scandinavian3.8%
Other18.5%
Callaway

Possible origins of the surname Callaway

Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.

Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Callaway have recent ancestry locations all within United Kingdom.

RECENT ANCESTRY LocationPercentage
Greater Manchester, United Kingdom89.30%
Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom89.30%
Merseyside, United Kingdom89.30%
Greater London, United Kingdom89.30%
Lancashire, United Kingdom88.90%

What Callaway haplogroups can tell you

Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.

The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Callaway is R-Z159, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z159 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS4065 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Calloway, Newcomb, Hobson, Wilber, Cotter, Havens, Musgrove, Cloud, Witherspoon, Totten.

The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Callaway surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.

callawayPaternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Paternal Haplo Image

Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI

The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.

Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette

Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.

Maternal Haplo Image

What do people with the surname Callaway have in common?

Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.

Preferences

Callaway

Chocolate Ice Cream

Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.

"Callaway" Surname 39.2%

23andMe Users 41.3%

Traits

Callaway

Misophonia

When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.

"Callaway" Surname 19.5%

23andMe Users 27.9%

Habits

Callaway

Sugary Drink

Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.

"Callaway" Surname 26.7%

23andMe Users 21.1%

Wellness

Callaway

Cat Allergy

An allergic reaction to cats, characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and difficulty breathing.

"Callaway" Surname 34.2%

23andMe Users 36.7%

Are health conditions linked to the last name Callaway?

The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.

Disease variant frequency by ancestry

Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Callaway are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Y402H variant

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss among older adults. The disease results in damage to the central part of the retina (the macula), impairing vision needed for reading, driving, or even recognizing faces. The 23andMe Health + Ancestry DNA test includes the two most common variants associated with an increased risk of developing the condition: the Y402H variant in the CFH gene and the A69S variant in the ARMS2 gene. Learn more about Age-Related Macular Degeneration

British & Irish 62.1%

23andMe Users 57.2%