This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Paye family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Paye Family History

Paye Surname Meaning

French: metonymic occupational name for an official responsible for settling accounts from Old French paie ‘payment’ (from Late Latin pacare ‘to appease requite’).

French (Payé): variant of Paillé (see Paille).

English: variant of Pay.

West African (Liberia): from a personal name found among the Mano (Mah) people denoting a third-born boy.

West African (Senegal): name found among the Lebou people. It could be an altered form of Faye which is of Serer origin.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Paye family from?

You can see how Paye families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Paye family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Paye families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 164 Paye families living in London. This was about 35% of all the recorded Paye's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Paye families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Paye surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Paye ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Paye. 20% of Paye men worked as a General Labourer and 79% of Paye women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Paye were Carpenter and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Paye | 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 1939

  • General Labourer
    20%
  • Bricklayer Heavy Work
    20%
  • Bricklayer
    20%
  • Carpenter
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Shop Assistant
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%

What Paye family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Paye. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Paye census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Paye

Passenger Lists

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

View all Paye immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Paye. For the veterans among your Paye ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Paye military records

You've only scratched the surface of Paye family history

Discover More

What is the average Paye lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Paye life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Paye in 1960 was 40, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Paye

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Paye ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Paye family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial