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

Yahl, 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 Yahl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yahl in America

Yahl is the 88685th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yahl surname appeared 209 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 Yahl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yahl 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 Yahl

The surname Yahl has its origins in Germany, particularly from regions such as Bavaria and Saxony. This name is derived from Old High German words or could be a variant of the surname Jahl, itself a regional variant of personal names like Jarl or Garl, which implied a leader or nobleman similar to the Old Norse 'jarl'. The first recorded instances of the Yahl surname appear in medieval records, though specific manuscripts mentioning it are sparse.

In historical archives, the name Yahl appears intermittently. One notable early mention is in the church records of the 16th and 17th centuries in the region of Bavaria. These records show families with the Yahl surname participating prominently in local affairs, reflecting their established presence in the community. Due to regional spelling variations and pronunciations, related names might have appeared as Jahl or Jahle in different documents, but the core identity and lineage remain linked to Yahl.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Yahl is Hans Yahl, born in 1593 and documented in Bavarian church records. Hans Yahl was known to have been a landowner, and his family's name appears repeatedly in property records throughout the 17th century.

Another significant figure is Friedrich Yahl, born in 1735 and noted in military records from the Seven Years' War. Friedrich served in a Bavarian infantry regiment and his valiant service was documented in military logs, highlighting the family's continued presence and importance.

In the 19th century, Johan Yahl, born in 1821, emigrated to America, where he became a farmer in Pennsylvania. His migration marked the spread of the Yahl surname beyond Europe, as descendants continue to live in the United States to this day.

In scholarly contexts, Karl Yahl, born in 1847, was a noted historian in Saxony whose written works and manuscripts on local German history remain referenced. His contributions to historical research further enshrined the Yahl name in academic circles.

Finally, Martha Yahl, born in 1903, was an influential artist who was part of the early 20th-century expressionist movement in Germany. Her works are still exhibited in several German art museums, linking the Yahl name to contributions in the arts.

Thus, the Yahl surname carries a rich history spanning several centuries, with origins in German nobility or regional leadership and a legacy that includes military service, migration, academic contribution, and artistic achievements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yahl

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

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

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

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