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

Yankov, 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 Yankov surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yankov in America

Yankov is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yankov surname appeared 122 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 Yankov.

The history of the last name Yankov

The surname Yankov traces its origins to the region historically known as the Balkans, specifically the areas encompassing modern-day Bulgaria and North Macedonia. The name is of Slavic origin and has roots in the patronymic traditions prevalent in these areas. The suffix "ov" or "ev" is commonly used in Bulgarian and Macedonian surnames to imply "son of." This places Yankov as directly meaning "son of Yanko," where Yanko is a diminutive or affectionate form of the name Yane, which itself is derived from Ioan, a variation of John, meaning "God is gracious" in Hebrew.

Historical references to the surname can be found in the 16th and 17th centuries, where names similar to Yankov appear in local administration records and church documents in Bulgaria. For example, records from the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the Balkans for several centuries, reference individuals with the surname in tax registers known as defters. Here, variations such as Jankov or Jankoff are also noted, speaking to the fluidity and regional dialectical differences in spelling during those periods.

The earliest recorded example of the surname is found in a church register from 1583 in Sofia, Bulgaria, listing a certain Petar Yankov among its parishioners. This suggests the name was well-established by the late 16th century. Other notable historical references include a 1709 deed of land where a man named Stoyan Yankov is mentioned as a landowner in the town of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

In place names, we see the name often integrated into the toponymy of the area. An example is the village of Yankovtsi in Bulgaria, which indicates settlers with the surname possibly established the locale or were prominent figures there.

One of the most prominent individuals in history with the surname Yankov was Georgi Yankov (1839-1892), a notable figure during the Bulgarian National Revival, who contributed to the cultural and educational progress in Bulgaria. Another key historical figure is Ivan Yankov (1881-1950), a Macedonian freedom fighter and revolutionary involved in the struggle against Ottoman rule.

Further, Dragan Yankov (1928-1999), a diplomat and head of various international organizations, showcased the surname's occurrence in the modern socio-political sphere. Similarly, Krasimir Yankov (b. 1964), an economist and politician, continued the name's illustrious tradition into the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Although not recent, an important cultural figure bearing the surname was Yako Yankov (1917-1983), a Bulgarian artist known for his significant contributions to 20th-century Bulgarian painting and sculpture.

The name Yankov, through these various historical and cultural touchstones, provides an insightful glimpse into the rich tapestry of Slavic lineage, patronymic traditions, and the dynamic history of the Balkans.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yankov

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

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 Yankov 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.

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

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

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