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

Yanowitz, 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 Yanowitz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yanowitz in America

Yanowitz is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yanowitz surname appeared 128 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 Yanowitz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yanowitz 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 Yanowitz

The surname Yanowitz has its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in areas that are now part of Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. The name is believed to be derived from a combination of Slavic linguistic elements and Jewish cultural influences, reflecting the historical presence of Ashkenazi Jewish communities in these regions. The suffix "witz" or "vitz" is a common patronymic ending in Slavic languages, often indicating "son of" or "descendant of". The root "Yan" is derived from the Hebrew name "Yochanan", which means "God is gracious".

Historical references to the surname Yanowitz are scarce, but records do indicate its existence in the 18th and 19th centuries. Manuscripts and community records from Jewish communities in Eastern Europe often feature the surname in various spellings, such as Janowitz, Yanovitz, and Yannovitz. These variations reflect the fluid nature of surname spellings before the standardization processes of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yanowitz dates back to the mid-18th century in Galicia, a historical region that straddles the modern-day borders of Poland and Ukraine. Jewish community records from Lviv (formerly Lemberg) mention a Moishe Yanowitz, born in 1753, who was a notable figure in the local Jewish community.

The name also appeared in 19th-century Russia, where a Yosef Yanowitz was documented in the 1820s as a merchant in the town of Grodno. He was known for his philanthropic activities, contributing to the construction of a synagogue and the support of local Jewish schools.

In the United States, one of the most prominent early immigrants with the surname was Abraham Yanowitz, born in 1875 in what is now Belarus. He arrived in New York in 1902 and quickly became involved in the burgeoning Garment District, eventually establishing a successful tailoring business. His descendants continued to be active in the garment industry throughout the 20th century.

Another notable figure was Rachel Yanowitz (1889-1965), a social activist and writer who emigrated from Lithuania to the United Kingdom in the early 1900s. She was known for her work in promoting women's rights and Jewish cultural heritage, authoring several pamphlets and books on these topics.

Lastly, David Yanowitz (1902-1983) was a Soviet mathematician of repute, contributing significantly to the field of algebra. His work was recognized with several awards, and he was a member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences.

Although the surname Yanowitz is not exceedingly common, its historical occurrences provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of individuals and families who carried it across continents and generations. The name encapsulates a rich cultural and linguistic history, deeply rooted in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yanowitz

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

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

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

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