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

Yahn, 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 Yahn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yahn in America

Yahn is the 26727th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yahn surname appeared 911 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 Yahn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yahn 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 Yahn

The surname Yahn has its origins in Central and Eastern Europe, predominantly in countries like Germany and Poland. The name first appeared in medieval times, potentially as early as the late 12th century. The surname Yahn is derived from the given name "Johann," which itself is the German form of "John." The name Johann was frequently found in ecclesiastical records. The surname is essentially a patronymic, indicating "son of Johann."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Yahn dates back to 1292, when a Hans Yahn was mentioned in a land deed in what is today modern Germany. Hans Yahn's name appears in documents related to the sale of farmlands around the town of Speyer. This suggests that the name has been tied to regions within the Holy Roman Empire.

In historical manuscripts, the name Yahn appears in varied spellings such as Jahn, Jahnn, and sometimes even as Iahn. Examples can be found in the writings of the medieval period, which mention individuals like Peter Jahn, a craftsman from Saxony in 1371. The consistent appearance of the surname in guild records indicates that bearers of the name were active members of mercantile and artisan classes.

One notable historical figure with the surname Yahn was Friedrich Yahn, an 18th-century professor of natural sciences at the University of Göttingen. He was born in 1745 and is known for his contributions to early botanical studies in Europe. His academic papers are still cited in modern botanical research.

In addition to academic accomplishments, the Yahn family name also appears in military history. Karl Yahn, born in 1802, served as a cavalry officer in the Prussian Army. He is noted for his service during the Napoleonic Wars, and his letters from the field provide important insights into military life of that era.

Another significant individual bearing this surname was Emilia Yahn, an artist from Poland who lived from 1843 to 1907. Her works were mostly landscape paintings, and several of her pieces are preserved in the National Museum in Kraków.

Into the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Yahn name continued to be associated with public life. August Yahn, born in 1857, was a politician in Imperial Germany, serving in the Reichstag during the era of Otto von Bismarck. His work primarily focused on agrarian policies and labor laws, marking the surname with a legacy of political influence.

In conclusion, the surname Yahn has a rich history that is deeply intertwined with the regions of Germany and Poland. Its origins as a patronymic name from Johann provide a notable context, while historical figures bearing the name have contributed to fields as varied as academia, military, art, and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yahn

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

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

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

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