Explore the Family Name Eye
The meaning of Eye
1. English: habitational name from any of at least three places called Eye (Suffolk, Northamptonshire, Herefordshire), or possibly a topographic name for someone who lived on low-lying land partly surrounded by water or marsh or an island, from Middle English eye (Old English ēg). Compare Nye, Rea, and Rye. This surname has now died out in Britain. 2. Norwegian: variant of Eie, from Eide.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Eye in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Eye" has seen a decline. In 2000, it ranked 15,317 in terms of popularity and fell to 17,775 by 2010, a change of -16.05%. The count of individuals with this surname also decreased from 1,761 in 2000 to 1,576 in 2010, marking a -10.51% change. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a decrease from 0.65 to 0.53, a reduction of -18.46%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,317 | #17,775 | -16.05% |
| Count | 1,761 | 1,576 | -10.51% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.65 | 0.53 | -18.46% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Eye
The ethnicity associated with the surname "Eye" also showed some shifts between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native was suppressed for privacy in 2010, after being 0.74% and 0.40% respectively in 2000. Those identifying with two or more races reduced from 0.85% to 0.63%, a change of -25.88%. White increased slightly from 94.26% to 96.07%, up by 1.92%. The Hispanic population had a small decrease from 1.82% to 1.65%, a -9.34% change. Meanwhile, those with Black ethnic identity dropped significantly from 1.93% to 0.89%, a change of -53.89%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.26% | 96.07% | 1.92% |
| Hispanic | 1.82% | 1.65% | -9.34% |
| Black | 1.93% | 0.89% | -53.89% |
| Two or More Races | 0.85% | 0.63% | -25.88% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.74% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.4% | 0% | 0% |