Explore the Family Name Golay
The meaning of Golay
Swiss French: nickname or topographic name derived from regional gola, gaula ‘mouth, opening’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Golay in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Golay saw a slight increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The rank of this surname moved up from 31,167 in 2000 to 31,001 in 2010, marking an increase of 0.53%. The count of individuals with the Golay surname also rose by 6.39%, from 704 people in 2000 to 749 in 2010. However, the proportion of individuals with this surname per 100k population slightly declined by -3.85% over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,167 | #31,001 | 0.53% |
| Count | 704 | 749 | 6.39% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.26 | 0.25 | -3.85% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Golay
Examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Golay, there was a notable shift in the distribution across different groups based on the Decennial U.S. Census data. While the majority of individuals identified as White in both years, the percentage decreased from 91.19% in 2000 to 87.45% in 2010. Meanwhile, the percentage of people identifying as Hispanic increased by 48.52%, and those identifying as Black increased by 6.57%. Interestingly, the representation of individuals who identify as belonging to two or more races jumped significantly from 0.85% to 2.67%. There were no recorded individuals with the Golay surname who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native during these census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.19% | 87.45% | -4.1% |
| Black | 4.26% | 4.54% | 6.57% |
| Hispanic | 2.7% | 4.01% | 48.52% |
| Two or More Races | 0.85% | 2.67% | 214.12% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |