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

Yankee, 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 Yankee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yankee in America

Yankee is the 31516th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yankee surname appeared 734 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 Yankee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yankee 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 Yankee

The surname Yankee is often associated with American history, but its roots stretch back to a more complex etymological and historical background. The name is believed to have originated from an early 17th-century pejorative term used by Dutch settlers in the New Netherland (present-day New York and New Jersey) to refer to English settlers in Connecticut. The precise etymology is debated, though one plausible origin is the Dutch word "Janke," a diminutive form of the name Jan, meaning little John or Johnny.

Yankee as a surname appears to have been rare, with historical manuscripts not commonly referencing it. However, variations and similar spellings are found in early colonies' records. For example, the Dutch used the term "Jan Kaas" (meaning John Cheese) to deride the English, suggesting a playful combination that could have evolved into the surname Yankee.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Yankee or its variants are sparse. One individual, Jacob Yankee, appears in mid-18th century New England, possibly derived from Dutch or English settler lines mixing with indigenous names. Another reference dates to the Revolutionary War era, where a soldier named Samuel Yankee served in the Continental Army around 1776, highlighting how the name may have been adopted during a significant historical period.

During the 19th century, the name began appearing more frequently in records. John Yankee, born in 1825, was a notable figure in upstate New York, involved in early rail transportation developments. His contributions to infrastructure continued through the mid-1800s, leaving a lasting influence on the region's transportation networks.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the surname Yankee had begun appearing in various public records, including Joseph Yankee, born in 1873, a prominent farmer in Ohio who played a pivotal role in local agricultural advancements. His efforts in crop rotation and sustainable farming practices were well-documented by agricultural societies of the time.

A more recent historical figure, Miriam Yankee, born in 1902, became known for her activism in women's suffrage in the early 20th century. Her participation in marches and speeches contributed to the eventual adoption of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920.

In understanding the surname Yankee, it is essential to recognize its multifaceted origin story, including Dutch, English, and American historical contexts. The name reflects an evolution influenced by early colonial histories, war, and significant social movements, making it a unique subject of onomatological study.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yankee

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!