Explore the Family Name Chay
The meaning of Chay
1. Amerindian (Guatemala and Mexico): Mayan name, from a term denoting a cultivated nettle (Jatropha aconitifolia), known as chaya. 2. Korean: variant of Chae. 3. Chinese: variant Romanization of the surnames 謝 (see Xie 1), 蔡 (see Cai 1), 崔 (see Cui), and 齊 (see Qi 1). 4. Cambodian: written ចាយ, of Chinese origin (compare 3 above). The surname ចាយ also corresponds to the Khmer word meaning e.g. ‘to disperse’ and, archaically, ‘newly opened’ (of flower buds). 5. Cambodian: written ឆាយ, same as Chhay. 6. Jewish (from the Middle East): variant of Hay. Some characteristic forenames: Korean Beng, Duck, Heng, Ilsoo, In, Seung, Seung Jae, Sin, Sok, Wan, Wing Kin, Won.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Chay in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Chay has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked 31,817 in popularity, while by 2010 it had jumped to a rank of 21,535, marking an impressive growth of 32.32 percent. The number of individuals with the Chay surname also rose from 686 to 1212 during this period, reflecting a substantial increase of 76.68 percent. The proportion of the Chay surname also grew per 100k people, rising from 0.25 to 0.41, indicating a 64.0 percent increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,817 | #21,535 | 32.32% |
| Count | 686 | 1,212 | 76.68% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.25 | 0.41 | 64% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Chay
Discussing the ethnic identity associated with the surname Chay, again based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there have been noticeable shifts between 2000 and 2010. The largest ethnicity identified was Asian/Pacific Islander, however, its presence decreased by 19.82 percent from 47.23 percent in 2000 to 37.87 percent in 2010. The proportion of Chays identifying as White also declined from 18.08 percent to 12.21 percent, a drop of 32.47 percent. On the other hand, the Hispanic representation saw a significant increase, jumping from 29.88 percent to 46.70 percent, a rise of 56.29 percent. The proportion of individuals identifying as Black increased slightly from 0.87 percent to 1.07 percent, marking a 22.99 percent change. The percentage of Chays identifying as two or more races decreased by 45.43 percent while the American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained unchanged at 0.00 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 29.88% | 46.7% | 56.29% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 47.23% | 37.87% | -19.82% |
| White | 18.08% | 12.21% | -32.47% |
| Two or More Races | 3.94% | 2.15% | -45.43% |
| Black | 0.87% | 1.07% | 22.99% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |