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

Yahr, 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 Yahr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yahr in America

Yahr is the 51176th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yahr surname appeared 407 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 Yahr.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yahr 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 Yahr

The surname Yahr finds its origins in Germany, specifically deriving from the German word "jahr," which means "year." The name is believed to have initially been an occupational surname given to individuals who took on a prominent timing role in their community, such as record keepers of annual events, significant dates, or changes in the calendar. Its roots can be traced back to the medieval period, with the earliest references appearing around the 12th to 14th centuries.

In the Rhineland region and parts of what is now modern Bavaria, the surname Yahr appeared in various forms in early records. Documents from these areas include entries that list individuals with the surname Jare or Jaher, which bear similarity to Yahr. As with many names of Germanic origin, slight variations often occurred due to regional dialects and the interpretative transcription of clerical record keepers.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname is Heinrich Yahr, mentioned in a 1373 land ownership document in the Rhineland region. Heinrich's role as a local official underscores the potential bureaucratic or administrative roots of the name. In the 15th century, the name appears again with Hans Yahr, a noted member of a municipal council in Bavaria, highlighting the name's association with positions of local authority and governance.

Another historical figure, Jakob Yahr, born in 1675 and deceased in 1738, was a well-documented merchant in Frankfurt. His extensive business dealings are evidenced by letters and trade agreements preserved in German municipal archives. These records provide insight into the socio-economic status of individuals bearing this surname during the 17th and 18th centuries, wherein many were involved in commerce and trade.

In the 18th century, one notable individual was Johann Friedrich Yahr, born in 1721 and remembered for his contributions to early science. As a scholar, his works on natural history and medicine were published and widely circulated within academic circles of the time. This period also saw emigration, with some Yahr families moving to the Americas and elsewhere, carrying the name internationally.

Lastly, the surname appears again in the story of Karl Yahr, born in 1802, who became a known figure in the German political scene, especially during the turbulent times leading up to and during the Revolutions of 1848. His involvement in advocating for labor rights and his writings in contemporary political pamphlets contributed to his recognition and the preservation of his surname in historical records.

Throughout history, the surname Yahr thus marks a legacy of administrative, commercial, scholarly, and political influence, with deep roots in Germanic linguistic and cultural traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yahr

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

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

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

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