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

Yanni, 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 Yanni surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yanni in America

Yanni is the 29793rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yanni surname appeared 789 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 Yanni.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yanni 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 Yanni

The surname Yanni is rooted in Greek origins and specifically derived from the Greek name Ioannis, meaning "John." The spelling variations of Yanni can be traced back to Byzantine and Medieval Greek periods. Ioannis itself is derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." The name has often related to the Christian tradition, as St. John the Baptist, a key figure in Christianity, was a highly revered saint.

In historical records, the earliest iterations of the name Ioannis and its derivatives appeared in religious manuscripts and Byzantine texts from around the 10th century. These documents often referenced religious figures and clergy, emphasizing the name's strong association with Christian traditions. By the 12th century, the variations of Ioannis, including Yanni, began appearing more frequently in the Eastern Mediterranean regions.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Yanni dates back to the 15th-century records from the island of Crete, then a part of the Venetian Republic. A notable figure during this period was Georgios Yanni, a merchant known for trading in local goods such as olive oil and wine. His activities were documented in Venetian trade logs, indicating his significant role in local commerce.

In the 16th century, notable records of the name appear in the context of the Ottoman Empire, which had a significant Greek population. During this time, many Greeks held surnames that were variations or diminutives of Ioannis. Demetrios Yanni, a scholar and scribe, served in the administrative offices of the Sultan's court, as noted in several Ottoman archives. His contributions to the court included translations of Greek texts into Ottoman Turkish.

The name also appears in the modern era through figures such as Stefanos Yanni, an influential figure in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1830). Born in 1795, he was a military leader and strategist in several key battles against the Ottoman forces. His historical significance is documented in several war memoirs and national archives.

Another significant individual with this surname is Sophia Yanni, a 19th-century poet and writer from Athens. Born in 1850, she made substantial contributions to Greek literature, with her works being featured in various literary anthologies. Her poetry, often dealing with themes of Greek identity and national pride, resonated deeply during the period of Greece's efforts to establish a cohesive national culture.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, Alexios Yanni, a noted researcher and academic, made significant contributions to archaeology, particularly in the excavation of Minoan sites in Crete. His extensive work between 1910 and his death in 1942 provided critical insights into ancient Greek civilizations and has been widely referenced in archaeological studies.

Throughout its history, the surname Yanni has maintained strong ties to the Greek cultural and religious heritage, bearing witness to notable contributions across various fields such as trade, academia, literature, and national history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yanni

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

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

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

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