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 Poy family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Poy Family History

Poy Surname Meaning

Chinese: possibly from Taishanese form of the Chinese names 培 (meaning ‘cultivate’) or 沛 (meaning ‘abundant’) which were monosyllabic personal names or part of disyllabic personal names of some early Chinese immigrants in the US.

Galician: habitational name from a place called Poi in A Coruña province Galicia (Spain) from the Latin personal name Paulus (see Paul).

Catalan: variant of Poll.

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 Poy family from?

You can see how Poy families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Poy family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Poy families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 7 Poy families living in Lancashire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Poy's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Poy families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Poy 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 Poy ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Poy. 22% of Poy men worked as a Laborer and 22% of Poy women worked as a Seamstress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Poy were Cook and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Poy | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    22%
  • Farmer
    22%
  • Clerk
    14%
  • Cook
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    22%
  • Stenographer
    22%
  • Waitress
    15%
  • Housekeeper
    15%

What Poy family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Poy. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Poy census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Poy

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Poy. 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 Poy immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 948 military records available for the last name Poy. For the veterans among your Poy ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Poy military records

You've only scratched the surface of Poy family history

Discover More

What is the average Poy lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Poy life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1999, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Poy in 1956 was 49, and 54 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Poy

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Poy 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 Poy family tree

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