Find out how popular the last name Yacks is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Yacks.

Yacks, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Yacks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yacks in America

Yacks is the 98099th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yacks surname appeared 185 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Yacks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yacks to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Yacks

The surname Yacks traces its origins back to Central Europe, specifically around the regions that constitute modern-day Germany and Poland. In the medieval era, surnames were often derived from a person's occupation, geographical location, a descriptive trait, or their father's name. The surname Yacks appears to have formed during the late Middle Ages, likely between the 13th and 15th centuries.

The name Yacks may derive from a diminutive or variation of the Germanic name Jakob or Jakub, which itself traces its roots to the Hebrew Yaakov. This would be consistent with a pattern seen in many surnames from the region, where biblical names were localized with regional linguistic twists. In German, the surname Yacks came to signify a familial relationship to someone named Jakob, potentially a son or descendant.

One of the earliest recorded references to a similar name can be seen in 14th-century German Church records, where variations such as Jax and Jachs were documented. These names were typically found in Bavaria and Saxony. Over time, regional dialects and migrations affected the spelling and pronunciation, leading to variations such as Yacks.

In 1529, a man named Hans Yacks appeared in a legal document regarding a land dispute in what is now the German state of Thuringia. This document highlights that the Yacks family were known landowners during the 16th century. Similar names appear in other regions, such as Johann Jacks, who was listed as a burgher in Krakow, Poland, in 1575.

By the 17th century, the surname Yacks had appeared in several parts of Central Europe. Individuals such as Peter Yacks, born in 1612 and noted for his role as a Lutheran minister in Saxony, contributed to the cultural and social fabric of their communities. Shortly thereafter, in the early 18th century, records mention Anna Maria Yacks, a resident of Cologne who was involved in trade and commerce.

The latter part of the 18th century saw the emigration of several Yacks families to other parts of Europe and North America. Noteworthy among them was Friedrich Yacks, born in 1768. He immigrated to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania around 1795. His descendants played a role in various civic and community developments during the American frontier period.

In the 19th century, the name Yacks continued to appear in historical documents and parish registers. Notably, Karl Yacks, born in 1823 in Bavaria, became a prominent figure in the local administration and was later recognized for his contributions to regional governance. By the end of the 19th century, the Yacks family had established roots in several countries and had contributed to the cultural and historical legacy of their respective regions.

Throughout history, the surname Yacks has been associated with various prominent individuals and families, reflecting a rich tapestry of regional, occupational, and personal histories. The name's diverse origins and spread across continents illustrate the interconnectedness of European development and migration trends.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yacks

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Yacks.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Yacks was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Yacks has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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