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

Yancer, 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 Yancer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yancer in America

Yancer is the 74608th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yancer surname appeared 259 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 Yancer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yancer 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 Yancer

The surname Yancer is believed to have its origins in Central Europe, with particular ties to the regions that now comprise Germany and Poland. The name likely dates back to the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries. Derived from the Middle High German and Polish roots, it is thought to be a variant of the surname Janzer, which itself is a diminutive form of the given name Jan, meaning “John” in English. The name John was very popular in medieval Europe, owing to its biblical origins and association with figures such as John the Baptist and the Apostle John.

The earliest recorded instances of similar surnames appear in the historical records of the Holy Roman Empire. Documents from the 13th century mention a Heinrich Janzar as a knight who served under the Emperor Frederick II. This suggests that derivatives of the Yancer surname were present in the noble classes of medieval Europe. Throughout the centuries, various spellings such as Janzar, Janzer, and later Yancer have been documented, reflecting the changes in dialects and phonetic interpretations over time.

In Poland, a notable individual bearing a variant of the name was Michal Janser, a landowner who appears in 14th-century feudal records. Michal's holdings were located in the southern regions, which are now part of modern-day Silesia. His presence in these records indicates that the family held some degree of social standing and property.

During the 16th century, another influential bearer of the name was Andreas Janser, a Lutheran reformer from Bavaria. Andreas was born in 1525 and became known for his theological works that contributed to the Protestant Reformation. His works and sermons, documented in various ecclesiastical archives, highlight the intellectual and religious fervor of the time and provide an early example of the surname in scholarly circles.

In the records of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), a military officer named Johann Yancer is noted for his role in the defense of Prague. Born in 1590, Johann Yancer's efforts during the siege in 1620 brought him recognition, though historical accounts of his life are sparse following the conflict. His mention in military documents underscores the involvement of the Yancer name in significant European conflicts.

By the 18th century, the name had spread across various parts of Europe. A notable figure was Marie Yancer, born in 1742 in the region now known as Austria. Marie gained prominence as a philanthropist and patron of the arts, her charitable works being recorded in the annals of Viennese society. Her legacy includes the founding of several orphanages and hospitals.

In the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution saw a surge in migrations, and the surname Yancer can be traced to new regions. One such individual is Friedrich Yancer, born in 1810 in the Rhineland. Friedrich emigrated to the United States in 1847, where he became involved in the steel industry, playing a pivotal role in the burgeoning American industrial landscape.

These historical references provide a rich tapestry of the surname Yancer, illustrating its varied spellings, geographical spread, and the notable contributions of individuals bearing the name throughout history. From medieval knights to religious reformers, and from military officers to philanthropists, the Yancer lineage is marked by a diverse and impactful presence in European and global history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yancer

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

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

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

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