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

Yankton, 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 Yankton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yankton in America

Yankton is the 84748th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yankton surname appeared 221 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 Yankton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yankton 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 Yankton

The surname Yankton has origins deeply rooted in the geographical and cultural history of the United States, specifically linked to the Yankton Sioux tribe. The Yankton Sioux people are part of the Great Sioux Nation and belong to the Dakota division. The name Yankton originates from the Dakota word Ihanktowan, which means "end village." This naming was historically tied to the tribe’s settlement location at the end of important trade routes.

The first documented use of Yankton as a surname is relatively sparse outside of Native American contexts. Early records show its prominence in the Yankton Sioux tribe and their interactions with European settlers during the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the earliest references to a historically significant figure with this surname is Strike-the-Ree (also known as Matowakan), a respected Yankton chief who was involved in negotiations and treaties with the United States government around the early 1800s. His efforts in diplomacy were vital during the mid-1800s, around the time he would have been in his leadership prime.

Another notable figure is Chief Struck-by-the-Ree (Patoina or Old Strike), who played a crucial role during the Dakota Wars and was active around the 1850s. He gained prominence during the Treaty of 1858 which led to the establishment of the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. This marked a significant event in the community’s history and underscores the importance of the surname in traceable lineages connected to these events.

In the early 20th century, Ella Cara Deloria, born in 1889 and a descendant of the Yankton Sioux tribe, carried forward the legacy of her heritage through her work. She was an ethnographer, linguist, and writer who meticulously documented the traditions, language, and stories of the Sioux people. Although Deloria is her commonly known surname, her full lineage was proudly associated with the Yankton Sioux community.

Chief Sitting Bear, a name given to multiple leaders within the Yankton Sioux tribe over different periods, also comes into focus. Sitting Bear was a title rather than a personal name, embodying a legacy of leadership that included negotiations and maintaining tribal traditions through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The use of titles reflecting the animal spirits and responsibilities of the bear portray the continuous lineage ties and reverence the community had for their leaders.

More contemporary historical records note Vine Deloria Sr., an Episcopal priest and scholar born in 1901. Although his primary surname was Deloria, he was a descendant of the Yankton Sioux and part of the extended lineage. His contributions to his community and theology reflect the enduring cultural memory and impact of the Yankton surname.

Each historical figure with links to the surname Yankton provides insight into the broader narrative of the Yankton Sioux people, their leadership, and cultural identity over time. While direct records might be limited outside of tribal contexts, the existing documented lineage underscores a profound historical presence and cultural significance embodied by the surname Yankton.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yankton

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

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

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

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