Explore the Family Name Macatangay

The meaning of Macatangay

Filipino: from the Tagalog word tangay meaning ‘carried off, carried away’ and ‘to hold tightly, to grab’ + the prefix maka, Hispanicized to maca, which has varying meanings, such as ‘ability’ or ‘cause’; possibly a nickname for someone who takes things, accidentally or intentionally, a grabber.

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

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

Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Macatangay has seen a notable increase in popularity in the United States between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, this surname was ranked 67,936th, but it climbed to the 50,467th position in 2010, marking a significant change of approximately 25.71%. The count of individuals with this last name also rose from 271 in 2000 to 414 in 2010, reflecting an impressive growth rate of 52.77%. Consequently, the proportion of people with this surname per 100,000 residents increased by 40% over the decade, from 0.1 to 0.14.

20002010Change
Rank#67,936#50,46725.71%
Count27141452.77%
Proportion per 100k0.10.1440%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Macatangay

With regard to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that individuals with the surname Macatangay predominantly identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. This group accounted for 85.24% of all Macatangays in 2000, increasing to 94.93% in 2010, which represents a change of 11.37%. The number of people identifying with two or more races dropped significantly by 61.33%, from 8.12% to 3.14%. Similarly, the percentage of those who identified as White declined sharply by 71.95%, falling from 5.17% in 2000 to 1.45% in 2010. No individuals with the Macatangay surname identified as Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.

20002010Change
Asian/Pacific Islander85.24%94.93%11.37%
Two or More Races8.12%3.14%-61.33%
White5.17%1.45%-71.95%
Hispanic0%0%0%
Black0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%