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

Yanak, 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 Yanak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yanak in America

Yanak is the 65593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yanak surname appeared 302 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 Yanak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yanak 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 Yanak

The surname Yanak has its origins rooted in Eastern Europe, specifically in regions like Poland, Ukraine, and the western part of Russia. Its history can be traced back to the medieval period, approximately the 13th century, a time when surnames began to be used more consistently for tax and census purposes.

Yanak is believed to be derived from the Slavic personal name Jan, which itself comes from the Latin Johannes, meaning "God is gracious." Variations of the patronymic surname can be seen in different Slavic languages, often demonstrating shifts in spelling and pronunciation reflective of local dialects and linguistic evolution. Names similar to Yanak include Janek, Janak, and Janák, which are found in old manuscripts and records from the aforementioned regions.

Historical references to the surname Yanak appear sporadically in various documents from the late medieval and early modern periods. For example, a 15th-century Polish ledger includes a Jacob Yanak, a landowner in the Małopolska region, suggesting that the name had significance in local governance and landholding even at that time.

Among the earliest recorded examples of the surname, a 1402 Slavic trade record mentions a merchant named Ivan Yanak, involved in commerce in what is now western Ukraine. Place names such as the village of Yanakivka (now known as Yaniv) indicate the geographical spread and localization of the surname, often marking the close-knit communities where the name was prominent.

Five notable people bearing the surname Yanak throughout history include:

1. Ivan Yanak, born circa 1370, was a merchant mentioned in early trade records from Ukraine. He played a significant role in regional trade routes linking Eastern Europe with the Mediterranean.

2. Janek Yanak, a 16th-century Polish scribe, active during the reign of King Sigismund I the Old, contributed to the literary and administrative records of the period, leaving behind meticulously kept documents.

3. Bozhidar Yanak, a 17th-century Bulgarian revolutionary, born in 1643 and died in 1691, participated in the anti-Ottoman resistance movements, embodying the fierce spirit of resistance in the Balkans.

4. Piotr Yanak, born in 1788 and died in 1849, was a notable figure during the Napoleonic Wars. He served as a military officer in the Duchy of Warsaw's army and was involved in the Polish uprisings of the period.

5. Lidia Yanak, a pioneering female journalist in 19th-century Russia, born in 1824 and died in 1886, was known for her progressive writings that advocated for social reform and women's rights, making her one of the few women in journalism at that time.

The surname Yanak, with its deep roots in the Slavic world, reflects a rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance. Through these historical references and notable individuals, it stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of regional identities and individual contributions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yanak

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

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

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

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