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Chay Family History

Chay Name Meaning

Amerindian (Guatemala and Mexico): Mayan name from a term denoting a cultivated nettle (Jatropha aconitifolia) known as chaya. Korean: variant of Chae . Chinese: variant Romanization of the surnames 謝 (see Xie ) 蔡 (see Cai ) 崔(see Cui ) and 齊 (see Qi ). Cambodian: written ចាយ of Chinese origin (compare 3 above). The surname ចាយ also corresponds to the Khmer word meaning e.g. ‘to disperse’ and archaically ‘newly opened’ (of flower buds). Cambodian: written ឆាយ same as Chhay . Jewish (from the Middle East): variant of Hay .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Cay, Chan, Chai, Chau, Che, Chae, Chao, Cham, Shay, Hak

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Chay family from?

You can see how Chay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Chay family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Chay families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 9 Chay families living in California. This was about 33% of all the recorded Chay's in USA. California had the highest population of Chay families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Chay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Chay ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Farm Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Chay. 23% of Chay men worked as a Laborer and 15% of Chay women worked as a Farm Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Chay were Bookkeeper and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Chay | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    23%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Cook
    13%
  • Bookkeeper
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Farm Laborer
    15%
  • Maid
    15%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Teacher
    15%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Chay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Chay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Chay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Chay

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Chay. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Chay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 339 military records available for the last name Chay. For the veterans among your Chay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Chay military records

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What is the average Chay lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2004, in the United States, Chay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1966, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Chay in 1966 was 47, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Chay

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