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Say Family History

Say Name Meaning

English: of Norman origin a habitational name from Sai in Orne or Say in Indre France perhaps so called from a Gaulish personal name Saius + the Latin locative suffix -acum (see also French name 3 below). English: nickname perhaps for someone who made or sold say a type of woollen cloth or for an habitual wearer of clothes made of this material from Middle English sai(e) ‘say’ (Old French saie from Latin saga plural of sagum ‘military cloak’). See also Sayer . French (southern): topographic name from saix (from Latin saxum) ‘rock’ or a habitational name from a place called with this word for example Say in Loire Saix in Tarn and Vienne Le Saix in Hautes-Alpes or Les Saix in Isère. Burmese (Karen): from a personal name usually forming part of a compound name from say ‘silver’. — Note: Since Karens do not have hereditary surnames this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. Cambodian: written សាយ corresponding to the Khmer word of various possible meanings including ‘(to be) prolific’. Turkish: ornamental name nickname or topographic name from mostly regional say meaning e.g. ‘flat very thin stone’ and ‘companion’.7: Amerindian (Guatemala): Mayan name from a term denoting a kind of small fish.

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

Similar surnames: Hay, May, Gay, Ray, Pay, Kay, Fay, Bay, Nay, Way

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Where is the Say family from?

You can see how Say families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Say family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Say families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 29 Say families living in Ontario. This was about 43% of all the recorded Say's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Say families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Say 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 Say family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 28,000 census records available for the last name Say. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Say census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Say
Passenger Lists
There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Say. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
View all Say immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 22,000 military records available for the last name Say. For the veterans among your Say ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Say military records

Census Records

There are 28,000 census records available for the last name Say. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Say census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Say

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Say. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Say immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 22,000 military records available for the last name Say. For the veterans among your Say ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Say military records

You've only scratched the surface of Say family history

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What is the average Say lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Say life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2002, and highest in 1968. The average life expectancy for Say in 1960 was 61, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Say

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