Find out how popular the first name Yancy has been for the last 49 years (from 1974 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Yancy by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Yancy is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 71% of people named Yancy being male.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Yancy.

It's also interesting to see that despite Yancy being historically a mostly male name, the most recent data from 2022 shows a shift in the trend, with more female babies being named Yancy.

The history of the first name Yancy

The name Yancy is a variant of the English name Yancey, which itself is derived from the Old English name Jenkin or Jenkin. The name Jenkin is a diminutive form of the name John, which ultimately traces its roots back to the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious."

The earliest known use of the name Yancey dates back to the 16th century in England. Records show that a man named Yancey Barker was born in 1562 in Gloucestershire, England. The name likely gained popularity due to its association with the more common name John.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Yancy was Yancy Derringer (1720-1792), an American frontiersman and explorer who was known for his adventures in the wilderness of what is now West Virginia and Kentucky. He was born in Pennsylvania and was of English descent.

Another historical figure with the name Yancy was Yancy Cravat (1787-1856), an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio. He was born in Virginia and was involved in the early settlement of the Ohio Territory.

In the 19th century, there was a prominent American writer and poet named Yancy Hoyt (1818-1892). He was born in New York and published several collections of poetry and prose works during his lifetime.

Another notable individual with the name Yancy was Yancy Fitzpatrick (1844-1923), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the steel industry. He was born in Ireland and later immigrated to the United States, where he became a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

A more recent historical figure with the name Yancy was Yancy Foster (1892-1971), an American jazz musician and bandleader who was active in the early 20th century. He was born in New Orleans and was known for his contributions to the development of jazz music in the city.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Yancy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Yancy, please contact us.

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