Explore the Family Name Stray
The meaning of Stray
1. English: northern variant of Straw. 2. Norwegian: habitational name from a farmstead in Agder named Strai, of uncertain derivation.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Stray in the United States?
The surname Stray, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, has seen a slight dip in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 64,008 in popularity with 291 individuals carrying the surname, representing 0.11 people per 100,000. By 2010, its rank had fallen to 70,645, with only 277 people bearing the name, or 0.09 per 100,000. This represents a drop of 10.37% in rank and a 4.81% decrease in count.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #64,008 | #70,645 | -10.37% |
| Count | 291 | 277 | -4.81% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.11 | 0.09 | -18.18% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Stray
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the surname Stray identify as white. In 2000, this figure was 90.72%, slightly decreasing to 90.25% by 2010. The percentage identifying as Black rose slightly from 5.84% in 2000 to 6.14% in 2010. Meanwhile, no Strays identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaskan Native, or of two or more races in either year. Interestingly, the census data shows a new ethnic identity emerging among the Strays in 2010, with 2.53% identifying as Hispanic.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90.72% | 90.25% | -0.52% |
| Black | 5.84% | 6.14% | 5.14% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.53% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |