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

Yager, 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 Yager surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yager in America

Yager is the 4766th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yager surname appeared 7,427 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Yager.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yager 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 Yager

The surname Yager is of German origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Jäger," which means "hunter" or "huntsman." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name were likely involved in hunting or forestry professions.

The name Yager first appeared in various German-speaking regions, particularly in areas with a strong hunting tradition, such as the Black Forest region. It is also possible that the name originated as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who excelled in hunting or lived near forested areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yager can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the 13th century. This suggests that the name was already in use during that time period.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Johann Yager was mentioned in the chronicles of the city of Nuremberg, where he served as a huntsman for the local nobility. This provides further evidence of the name's association with hunting and forestry.

During the 16th century, the name Yager gained prominence through the exploits of Hans Yager, a renowned marksman and hunter from the Black Forest region. His skill and reputation as a huntsman contributed to the name's prestige and recognition.

Another influential figure bearing the Yager surname was Gottfried Yager, born in 1645 in the town of Freiburg. He was a renowned cartographer and mapmaker, whose works were widely acclaimed for their accuracy and attention to detail.

In the 18th century, the name Yager appeared in various regions of Europe, including in the records of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. One notable individual from this period was Friedrich Yager, a distinguished military officer who served in the Prussian Army during the Seven Years' War.

As the Yager family spread throughout Europe, the name also took on various spellings, such as Jager, Jaeger, and Yeager, reflecting regional linguistic variations and adaptations.

Throughout history, the surname Yager has been associated with individuals from diverse professions, including hunters, foresters, soldiers, artisans, and scholars. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the hunting and forestry traditions of Germanic-speaking regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yager

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

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

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

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