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

Yacoub, 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 Yacoub surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yacoub in America

Yacoub is the 18090th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yacoub surname appeared 1,540 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Yacoub.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yacoub 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 Yacoub

The surname Yacoub finds its origins primarily in the Middle East, particularly among Arabic-speaking populations. It is derived from the Arabic name Yaqub, which in turn is a form of the Hebrew name Ya'aqov, commonly known in its Anglicized form as Jacob. The name Ya'aqov is historically significant and appears in religious texts such as the Hebrew Bible and the Quran, reflecting its deep-rooted significance in the Abrahamic tradition.

The earliest references to the surname Yacoub can be traced back to the Islamic Golden Age, around the 8th to 14th centuries. During this time, scholars, merchants, and religious figures often carried the name Yaqub, which eventually evolved phonetically and orthographically into Yacoub in certain dialects and regions.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the surname Yacoub appears in medieval Arabic manuscripts and historic records. These include writings from the Abbasid Caliphate, where the name Yaqub was quite prevalent among scholars and scientists. A significant figure from this period was Yaqub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, often referred to as the "Philosopher of the Arabs," who was born around 801 and died in 873. Although he is more commonly known by his first and middle names, al-Kindi's legacy carried through various iterations of the surname.

Another early figure is Yaqub ibn Tariq, a renowned mathematician and astronomer of the 8th century, who contributed to the advancement of mathematical and astronomical knowledge in the Islamic world. His works were influential in the development of medieval scientific thought.

The evolution of the name can also be seen in various historical documents and trade records throughout the Mediterranean and the Near East. For instance, the name appeared in merchant records from the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, indicating the prominence of families with the surname Yacoub in trade and commerce.

In the realm of literature and the arts, Yaqub Sanu, also known as James Sanua or Yaqub Rufa'il Sanu (1839–1912), was an Egyptian Jewish playwright and journalist who played a significant role in the cultural and political life of Egypt during the 19th century. His works often dealt with the themes of social justice and reform, and he is remembered for his contributions to Egyptian theater and journalism.

In more recent history, Yacoub Meir, an influential rabbi and Torah scholar born in 1852 and passed away in 1939, served as a Chief Rabbi in various communities in the Middle East, including Hebron and Jerusalem. His teachings and religious leadership left a lasting impact on Jewish communities in the region.

The surname Yacoub has also been associated with various place names and geographic references. The region of Yacoubiyah in modern-day Syria, for example, reflects the historical and familial connections to the surname.

Throughout history, the surname Yacoub has been borne by figures who have significantly impacted religious scholarship, science, literature, and commerce in their respective societies. Its rich etymological and historical background underscores the deep cultural and historical connections spanning across different eras and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yacoub

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

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 Yacoub 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 Yacoub 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 Yacoub was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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