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

Yanny, 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 Yanny surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yanny in America

Yanny is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yanny surname appeared 121 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 Yanny.

The history of the last name Yanny

The surname Yanny is believed to have originated from Greece during the Byzantine period, which spans from approximately the 4th century AD to the 15th century AD. The name is thought to derive from the Greek word Ioannis, a common Greek form of John. This was a popular name in early Christian and Byzantine cultures, due to the veneration of Saint John the Baptist and the Apostle John. Variations of the name can be found, such as Yanni or Gianni, which are commonly found in Greek and Italian cultures respectively.

The name Yanny appears in various historical references and records, primarily connected to Greek Orthodox monasteries and church registries. One of the earliest known records of this surname can be traced back to the 12th century, where a monk named Ioannis Yanny is mentioned in the annals of a Greek Orthodox monastery in the region that is now Turkey. Monastic records often preserved such surnames due to the ecclesiastical roles their bearers occupied.

Throughout history, members of the Yanny family have contributed significantly in various regions and periods. One notable figure is Andronikos Yanny, a 14th-century diplomat who played a crucial role in negotiations between the Byzantine Empire and the Republic of Venice. Another prominent individual, Demetrius Yanny, was a merchant based in Constantinople during the 15th century, whose trade activities are documented in several Venetian trade records.

In the 16th century, Ioannis Yanny, who was active during the Ottoman Empire, is recorded as a scholar and translator. His works contributed to the cultural exchange between the Greek and Ottoman intellectual spheres. Another historical figure is Eleni Yanny, a philanthropist in the 18th century, who funded the construction of several schools and hospitals in the Peloponnese region.

Nikolaos Yanny, an early 19th-century revolutionary, played a role in the Greek War of Independence. Born in 1793 and dying in 1851, he is remembered for his efforts and leadership in several key battles during the struggle against Ottoman rule. His contributions are well-documented in Greek historical accounts of the period.

The surname Yanny can also be connected to a specific place name in Greece, particularly the region of Ioannina, which traces its name from Ioannis. This city has historically been a cultural and intellectual hub, potentially fostering the surname due to its religious and scholarly significance.

The Yanny surname, therefore, carries with it rich historical and cultural significance, tracing back to ancient Greece and evolving through various important periods and figures throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yanny

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Yanny, 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!