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

Yannelli, 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 Yannelli surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yannelli in America

Yannelli is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yannelli surname appeared 123 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 Yannelli.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yannelli 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 Yannelli

The surname Yannelli has its origins in Italy, a country with a rich tapestry of regional variations and linguistic influences. The name is believed to have emerged around the late Middle Ages, a period marked by the growth of trade and cities in Italy. It is primarily associated with the southern regions, particularly Apulia and Calabria, although it can also be found in other parts of Italy.

The root of Yannelli can be traced to the Italian given name Giovanni, which itself is derived from the Latin Iohannes, meaning "God is gracious." Over time, Giovanni was shortened and modified into various diminutive forms, one of which is Giannelli. The prefix Giann- signifies its connection to Giovanni, and the suffix -elli is a common diminutive in Italian surnames, implying “little” or “descendant of,” so Yannelli essentially means "little John" or "descendant of John."

Historical references to the name can be found in various medieval and Renaissance documents. In the 15th century, records from the Kingdom of Naples mention a nobleman named Federico Yannelli, who was known for his patronage of the arts and his involvement in local politics. Another early instance is a 16th-century manuscript from the Vatican Archives that mentions Father Angelo Yannelli, a clergyman who played a significant role in the Catholic Church's efforts to counter the Reformation in Southern Italy.

One prominent figure bearing the surname is Domenico Yannelli, a 17th-century military officer who served under the Duke of Savoy. Born in 1628 and dying in 1695, Domenico Yannelli was noted for his strategic acumen and valor during various battles in Northern Italy. His contributions were significant enough to be recorded in military annals from that period.

In the 18th century, the name Yannelli appears in records of emigration as families moved from rural areas to larger cities or even abroad. Among these emigrants was Maria Yannelli, born in 1764 in Calabria, who later settled in Florence. Her letters, preserved in family archives, provide insights into the daily lives and struggles of emigrant families during that era.

By the 19th century, the surname Yannelli had spread to different parts of the world, primarily through the waves of Italian emigration. One notable figure from this period is Luigi Yannelli, an Italian-American community leader born in 1850 in Apulia and who died in New York in 1922. Luigi Yannelli helped establish several cultural and charitable organizations aimed at assisting Italian immigrants in the United States.

Another noteworthy individual is Sofia Yannelli, an Italian poet and literary figure of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1873 and passing away in 1929, Sofia’s works are still studied for their contribution to Italian literature and their reflection of the social issues of her time.

The surname Yannelli, with its rich history and varied geographical spread, captures the essence of Italian heritage and the story of personal and familial evolution over the centuries. It remains a symbol of the enduring legacy of those who bore it, contributing to various fields such as the military, church, literature, and community leadership.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yannelli

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

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

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

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