Explore the Family Name Sisay
The meaning of Sisay
1. Ethiopian: from the personal name Sisay, meaning ‘good fortune’ in the Amharic language. — Note: Since Ethiopians do not have hereditary surnames, this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. 2. West African (Sierra Leone and the Gambia): variant of Sesay.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sisay in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Sisay experienced a significant increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Sisay was ranked 102,691 in terms of popularity, but by 2010 this ranking had improved to 60,790, marking a change of approximately 40.8%. The number of individuals carrying the Sisay surname also increased over this decade, with the count rising from 162 in 2000 to 331 in 2010, an impressive rise of over 104%. The proportion of people named Sisay per 100,000 also showed growth, from 0.06 in 2000 to 0.11 in 2010, reflecting an 83.33% upswing.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #102,691 | #60,790 | 40.8% |
| Count | 162 | 331 | 104.32% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.06 | 0.11 | 83.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sisay
In terms of ethnic identity, the census data show some interesting changes between 2000 and 2010. While the percentage of Sisays identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, White, or Two or more races decreased, the Black community saw an increase. In 2000, 6.79% identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, decreasing to 3.93% in 2010. Similarly, those identifying as White dropped from 4.32% to 2.42%, and those reporting Two or more races fell from 4.32% to 1.81%. On the other hand, there was an increase in the Black community, going from 83.95% in 2000 to 90.94% in 2010. There were no recorded Sisays in the Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native categories in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 83.95% | 90.94% | 8.33% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 6.79% | 3.93% | -42.12% |
| White | 4.32% | 2.42% | -43.98% |
| Two or More Races | 4.32% | 1.81% | -58.1% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |