UK surname
A French surname derived from the regional word for a cay or small island.
In the 1881 census there were 109 people recorded with the Cay surname, ranking it #18,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 66, ranked #33,948, down from #18,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Inverness and Bona, Edinburgh and Cruden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cay is 171 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.4%.
1881 census count
109
Ranked #18,793
Modern count
66
2016, ranked #33,948
Peak year
1851
171 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cay surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cay surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 171 | #11,730 |
| 1881 | historical | 109 | #18,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 58 | #29,439 |
| 1901 | historical | 160 | #17,387 |
| 1997 | modern | 58 | #31,831 |
| 1998 | modern | 67 | #31,282 |
| 1999 | modern | 66 | #31,509 |
| 2000 | modern | 62 | #31,939 |
| 2001 | modern | 58 | #32,180 |
| 2002 | modern | 65 | #31,903 |
| 2003 | modern | 70 | #31,486 |
| 2004 | modern | 68 | #31,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 63 | #32,602 |
| 2006 | modern | 63 | #32,943 |
| 2007 | modern | 64 | #33,145 |
| 2008 | modern | 60 | #33,743 |
| 2009 | modern | 62 | #33,832 |
| 2010 | modern | 70 | #33,480 |
| 2011 | modern | 64 | #33,917 |
| 2012 | modern | 64 | #34,028 |
| 2013 | modern | 66 | #34,003 |
| 2014 | modern | 61 | #34,343 |
| 2015 | modern | 64 | #34,112 |
| 2016 | modern | 66 | #33,948 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Inverness and Bona, Edinburgh, Cruden, Bishop Wearmouth and Jarrow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inverness and Bona | Inverness |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Cruden | Aberdeen |
| 4 | Bishop Wearmouth | Durham |
| 5 | Jarrow | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cay surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cay, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Cay surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cay household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Cay is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cay is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cay, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname CAY has its origins in France, tracing back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "cai," meaning a small landing place or quay, suggesting that the original bearers of this name may have lived near a river or harbor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CAY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landholdings and property ownership in England following the Norman Conquest. The name appears as "de Cai," indicating a connection to a specific place.
During the 12th century, the surname CAY began to spread across various regions of France, particularly in the northern provinces. Historical records from this time period mention individuals such as Jacques de Cay (born c. 1160), a prominent landowner in the Normandy region, and Renaud Cay (c. 1185-1247), a respected scholar and philosopher from Paris.
By the 13th century, variations of the name, such as "Caye" and "Cayes," emerged in different regions of France, reflecting local dialects and spelling conventions. One notable figure from this era was Guillaume de Cay (c. 1220-1285), a French knight who participated in the Seventh Crusade.
As the name spread across Europe, it also took root in other countries, including England and Germany. In England, the surname was often anglicized to "Kay" or "Key," as evidenced by records from the 14th century mentioning individuals like John Kay (c. 1305-1370), a merchant from York, and William Key (c. 1345-1412), a renowned architect who contributed to the construction of several churches in London.
In Germany, the name appeared as "Kaye" or "Kaye," with one notable figure being Hans Kaye (c. 1475-1532), a respected scholar and theologian from Wittenberg, who was a contemporary of Martin Luther during the Protestant Reformation.
Throughout history, the surname CAY has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, from landowners and scholars to merchants and craftsmen. While many bearers of this name may not have achieved widespread fame, their contributions and legacies have been woven into the cultural tapestry of the regions they called home.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cay surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Aberdeenshire leads with 39 Cays recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | 39 | 25.25x |
| Durham | 30 | 6.05x |
| Middlesex | 16 | 0.96x |
| Surrey | 13 | 1.60x |
| Midlothian | 11 | 4.92x |
| Inverness-shire | 8 | 16.06x |
| Northumberland | 8 | 3.22x |
| Kent | 7 | 1.23x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.42x |
| Derbyshire | 6 | 2.30x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 1.22x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 0.71x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.71x |
| Angus | 2 | 1.29x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.58x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.10x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 0.95x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.53x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.87x |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 3.23x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.19x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 2.62x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.64x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.37x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.49x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 22 Cays recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.12x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cay surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cay surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cay households.
FAQ
In 1881, 109 people were recorded with the Cay surname. That placed it at #18,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 66 in 2016. That gives Cay a modern rank of #33,948.
A French surname derived from the regional word for a cay or small island.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cay bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.