The Bays surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 6,588 people carried this name — #5,287 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 44,800 people counted. That is up 2% from 6,431 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the Bays surname

From Bay + -s.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Bays» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

365 people named Bays live in Switzerland.

They live in 9 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Fribourg.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Fribourg 154
Vaud 96
Geneva 53
Valais 23
Neuchâtel 18
Bern 7
Zurich 6
Aargau 5

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Belgium’s population register

At least 64 people named Bays live in Belgium.

Statbel only publishes a name in a municipality when five or more people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Luxembourg Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Luxembourg Province 41
Namur 23

Statbel (Statistics Belgium), family names of the population by municipality, 1 January 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 48 people named Bays.

10 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 13 départements, most often Aisne.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 10
Aisne 7
Haute-Savoie 6
Doubs 5
Jura 5
Oise 5
Val-d’Oise 2
Yvelines 2
Hauts-de-Seine 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Bays was found among the farmers of Cambridgeshire: 20 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Cambridgeshire 20

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Bays in American newspapers,
1870–1923.

Newspaper page from Knoxville Weekly Chronicle carrying the name Bays
Knoxville Weekly Chronicle 1870-05-18
Newspaper page from Knoxville Weekly Chronicle carrying the name Bays
Knoxville Weekly Chronicle 1870-05-18
Newspaper page from The Washington Times carrying the name Bays
The Washington Times 1923-06-26

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 18,163 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Bays in Australian newspapers,
1840s–1970s.

10,496 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bays. The most, 1,963, date from the 1900s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 3,770
Queensland 2,190
Victoria 1,771
South Australia 1,405
Tasmania 737
Western Australia 610
Northern Territory 3

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bays.

Who carried it

People named Bays,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Marguerite Bays
    Marguerite Bays 1815–1879 · dressmaker
  • Fred Fenton Bays d. 1955 · writer
  • Séverin Bays 1885–1972 · politician
  • Marcel Bays 1914–2002
  • Carl Andrew Bays 1916– · writer
  • Daniel H. Bays 1942–2019 · historian

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Bays,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States329 records

329 records of the Bays name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 202
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 59
  • Other U.S. records 68
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Jimmie D. Bays

    Born 1932; from Kanawha County, West Virginia. U.S. Army, heavy weapons infantryman; killed in action 1950 in South Korea. Buried at West Virginia National Cemetery, West Virginia.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Lansford R. Bays

    Born 1924 in West Virginia. Enlisted 1943 at Fort Thomas Newport, Kentucky; farm hand. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1994, buried at Lively Cemetery, Sod, West Virginia.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Alice Bays

    Arrived at New Orleans in 1850 aboard the Ontario from London, aged 31; dressmaker. From England; bound for New Orleans.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 329 records for Bays in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia62 records

62 records of the Bays name in Australia
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 26
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 18
  • Other Australian records 18
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John Bays

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Mangles, sailing from London in 1835. Native of Hadleigh, Suffolk. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1845.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Wm G. Bays

    Arrived in Victoria in 1854 aboard the Lincluden Castle, aged 29; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Edna Mary Bays

    Of Lower Templestowe, Victoria; died 1985.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 62 records for Bays in Australia.

Counts: Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

France19 records

19 records of the Bays name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Rene Henri Bays

    Born 1906 in Pontoise (Yvelines); died 1975 in Lourdes (Hautes-Pyrénées).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Germaine Marguerite Bays

    Born 1916 in Thonon-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie); died 1973 in Lyon (Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Angele Juliette Bays

    Born 1921 in Marchais (Aisne); died 1983 in Moulins (Allier).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 19 records for Bays in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

United Kingdom6 records

6 records of the Bays name in the United Kingdom
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 4
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Sarah Bays

    Buried in 1823 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 63.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record G. J. Bays

    West Yorkshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record F. G. Bays

    Tank Corps. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Bays in the United Kingdom.

Counts: MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands5 records

5 records of the Bays name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 4
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Catharina Elisabeth Bays

    Married in 1877 in Amsterdam; domestic servant.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Antje Bays

    In the population register of Amsterdam; born 1808 in Amstm.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Cornelis Bays

    In a population register; born 1840 in Zaandam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 5 records for Bays in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Germany4 records

4 records of the Bays name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Johann Bays

    From Kreuzeber, Heiligenstadt. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 2 October 1915 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 48).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Alois Bays

    From Kreuzeber, Heiligenstadt. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 10 December 1917.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  3. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Otto Bays

    From Kreuzeber, Heiligenstadt. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 10 December 1917.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 3 of 4 records for Bays in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Canada3 records

3 records of the Bays name in Canada
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 1
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 1
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 1
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Sandra Blanche Bays

    Died 1946; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Stuart C. Bays

    Buried in 1924 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Irene Bays

    Died 1957; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Counts: City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

Switzerland1 record

1 record of the Bays name in Switzerland Members of the Zürich cantonal parliament since 1803
  1. Zürich town hall on the Limmat, seat of the cantonal parliament, in 1891
    Pictured: Zürich town hall, 1891
    Public office Emil Bays

    Born 1914. Member of the Zürich cantonal parliament.

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich / Statistisches Amt des Kantons Zürich (open use)

Counts: Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich / Statistisches Amt des Kantons Zürich (open use). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Zürich town hall, 1891, Zentralbibliothek Zürich (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Bays.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Bays is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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