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

Yakaitįs, 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 Yakaitįs surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Yakaitįs in America

Yakaitįs is the 147095th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yakaitįs surname appeared 103 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Yakaitįs.

The history of the last name Yakaitįs

The surname Yakaitis is of Lithuanian origin, with roots tracing back to the Baltic region, specifically Lithuania. The name is believed to have first appeared during the late medieval period when surnames were becoming more common among the Lithuanian nobility and settled populations. Derived from the root word "Jakas," which can be associated with strength or power, the surname likely denoted someone of a formidable or respected stature.

Yakaitis appears in historical records as early as the 16th century when Lithuania was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In one such instance, a Jan Yakaitis is mentioned in a 1589 registry of noble families, highlighting the surname's early ties to the Lithuanian gentry. The connection of the name to nobility implies that bearers of the name were landowners or held significant social positions.

Another early example is from the church records in the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania, where a Mikolas Yakaitis is documented in 1613 as having donated land to a local monastery. This record underscores the standing of the Yakaitis family within the ecclesiastical and social realms of their time.

In the late 17th century, the surname appears in various land sale documents. A notable figure, Tomas Yakaitis, born around 1652 and died in 1710, is recorded as a landowner in the Vilnius region. Tomas's transactions reveal a family of considerable means and influence, as they navigated the political and social shifts of the region.

During the 18th century, Grigorius Yakaitis, born in 1707, becomes a prominent figure in military records. Serving as an officer in the Lithuanian division of the Commonwealth’s army, his exploits are well-documented in military archives, shedding light on the partaking of the Yakaitis family in broader regional conflicts and politics.

The 19th century brings forward Kazimieras Yakaitis, an influential intellectual born in 1830 and dying in 1892, who contributed significantly to the Lithuanian National Revival. His writings and active participation in cultural societies demonstrate the surname's continuity through centuries, interwoven with the historical fabric of Lithuania.

Throughout these periods, variations in spelling, such as Jakaitis or Jočaitis, can be found due to transliteration practices and regional linguistic influences. Despite these differences, the enduring presence of the Yakaitis surname in historical documents embodies a rich tapestry of social, military, and intellectual achievement in Lithuanian history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yakaitįs

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Yakaitįs 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.

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

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

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