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

Yanke, 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 Yanke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yanke in America

Yanke is the 22301st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yanke surname appeared 1,156 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 Yanke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yanke 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 Yanke

The surname Yanke is believed to have originated in Germany during the medieval period. It is commonly found in areas such as Saxony and Brandenburg, regions that have a rich history of linguistic and cultural evolution. The name Yanke is thought to be a diminutive form derived from the Germanic given name Johannes, which in turn comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." Variations of this surname have included Jahnke, Janke, and Jannke, reflecting the diverse dialects and phonetic developments of the areas where it was used.

Historical records and manuscripts, such as church registers and land deeds, contain early references to the surname Yanke. One notable mention appears in a 13th-century document listing landowners in Brandenburg, where a "Johannes Yanke" was documented. Such records provide a glimpse into the early presence and distribution of the surname in German-speaking territories.

The earliest recorded examples of the Yanke surname highlight its contextual usage and origins. In 1327, a "Heinrich Jahnke" was recorded as a witness in a legal dispute in Saxony. This suggests the name had already been well-established by the early 14th century. Another early instance involves "Peter Janke," who is mentioned in a land grant in Brandenburg in 1375, indicating the name's presence in multiple regions during this period.

Several individuals bearing the Yanke surname gained recognition in history. One prominent figure was Martin Yanke, born in 1592, a noted scholar and theologian from Saxony who played a significant role in religious debates of the early 17th century. Another important personality was Andreas Jahnke, a military officer born in 1638, who served under the Electorate of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War. His contributions to military strategy were well-regarded in historical accounts.

In the artistic realm, Elisabeth Janke, born in 1744, was a celebrated painter from Prussia whose works depicted rural life and landscapes, attracting the admiration of art enthusiasts during her time. Otto Yanke, born in 1827, made a name for himself as a composer and conductor in Berlin, contributing significantly to the city's musical heritage. A more recent historical figure, Wilhelm Janke, born in 1887, was an influential engineer and inventor whose innovations in mechanical engineering garnered widespread recognition during the early 20th century.

The surname Yanke, with its rich history and wide-reaching influence, continues to be a marker of cultural and linguistic heritage. From its origins in medieval Germany to its spread across various regions and contexts, it represents a fascinating aspect of onomastic studies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yanke

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

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

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

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