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

Yaniz, 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 Yaniz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yaniz in America

Yaniz is the 113791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yaniz surname appeared 154 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 Yaniz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yaniz 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 Yaniz

The surname Yaniz is believed to have origins in the Basque region, an area straddling the border between modern-day Spain and France. It is a region known for its unique linguistic and cultural heritage. The name has roots in the Basque language, which is unrelated to Spanish or French and is one of the oldest languages in Europe. The Basque language does not follow the same etymological rules as Indo-European languages, making the origin of surnames particularly intriguing.

Yaniz likely derives from a toponym, indicating an ancestral lineage tied to a specific geographical location. One possibility is the Basque word "iha," meaning frost or snow, combined with "anez," a suffix denoting place or belonging. The surname Yaniz thus could mean "place of snow" or "from the snowy area." Another theory suggests that Yaniz might originate from the given name Juan, the Basque form of John, combined with the suffix "iz," which indicates "descendant of." In this case, Yaniz would mean "descendant of Juan."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Yaniz can be traced back to ecclesiastical records in the Basque region during the late Middle Ages. Parish records from towns such as Pamplona and San Sebastián, dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, often mention individuals with the surname Yaniz. These early records primarily document events such as baptisms, marriages, and burials, indicating that the name had established itself within the local communities by that time.

A notable figure with the surname Yaniz is Pedro Yaniz, born in 1453, who served as a merchant in the bustling port city of Bilbao. His trading ventures between the Basque Country and other parts of Europe were instrumental in fostering commercial relationships. Another prominent individual, María de Yaniz, born in 1490, was known for her involvement in the local gentry and her charitable contributions to the Church.

In the early 17th century, we find references to Martín Yaniz, a scholar and translator born in 1602. He was known for translating religious texts from Latin to Basque, thereby making them more accessible to the local populace. His works were particularly significant during a time when the Basque language was predominantly oral and lacked written documentation.

The 18th century saw the emergence of Sebastián Yaniz, born in 1721, a noted cartographer and surveyor. His detailed maps of the Basque region greatly aided in land management and administration during the reign of King Carlos III of Spain. His contribution to the field of cartography was recognized by the Royal Spanish Geographical Society.

In the late 19th century, Ignacio Yaniz, born in 1865, became a well-known figure in the labor movement within the Basque region. He played a pivotal role in organizing workers and advocating for labor rights, which were critical during the period of industrialization in Spain. His efforts laid the groundwork for future labor reforms and workers' associations.

The historical journey of the surname Yaniz reflects the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the Basque Country. The name has evolved from its geographical and possibly patronymic origins to become associated with notable individuals who contributed to various aspects of society, from commerce and religion to scholarship and labor rights.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yaniz

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

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

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

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