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Malay Family History

Malay Name Meaning

Americanized form of Rusyn (from Slovakia) Mlej: from an imperatival derivative of a dialect form of the verb mlieť ‘to mill’ used as a nickname for miller. Compare Maley 2 and Malley Ukrainian: metonymic occupational name from malay ‘bread made of corn peas or millet’. Irish: perhaps from Ó Máille see O'Malley . This form of the surname is very rare in Britain and Ireland and is found mainly in Lancashire England. Filipino: nickname from Tagalog malay ‘consciousness awareness’. Filipino: ethnic name from Tagalog malay ‘Malay’.

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


Similar surnames: Malan, Mally, Mclay, Matey, Balay, Maloy, Paley, Maly, Maday, Malik

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Malay family from?

You can see how Malay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Malay family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Malay families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Malay families living in Iowa Territory. This was about 25% of all the recorded Malay's in USA. Iowa Territory and 2 other states had the highest population of Malay families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Malay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Malay ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Malay. 27% of Malay men worked as a Laborer and 15% of Malay women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Malay were Truck Driver and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Malay | 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
    27%
  • Farmer
    9%
  • Salesman
    7%
  • Truck Driver
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    15%
  • Maid
    15%
  • Laborer
    12%
  • Clerk
    12%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Malay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Malay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Malay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Malay

Passenger Lists

There are 854 immigration records available for the last name Malay. 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 Malay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Malay. For the veterans among your Malay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Malay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Malay family history

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What is the average Malay lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Malay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Malay in 1958 was 28, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Malay

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Malay family tree

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