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

Yarbough, 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 Yarbough surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yarbough in America

Yarbough is the 26949th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yarbough surname appeared 900 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 Yarbough.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yarbough 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 Yarbough

The surname Yarbough is believed to have its origins in England, specifically during the Middle Ages. The name is likely a variant of Yarborough, which has been traced back to Old English elements. The prefix "Yar-" could derive from the Old English word "eorðe," meaning "earth" or "soil," combined with "burgh," meaning "fortress" or "town." Such a name likely referred to someone who lived by a fortified settlement or a notable piece of land.

The earliest references to similar surnames appear in ancient English records. One of the earliest known instances of a related name is in the Domesday Book, a great survey of England completed in 1086 on the orders of King William the Conqueror. While Yarbough in its current form does not appear, related variants like Yareberge or Yareburg are noted, suggesting a connection.

One historical figure bearing a similar name is Richard de Yarburgh, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in the year 1334. The "de" prefix indicates that Richard was from a place called Yarburg, which is now a lost medieval village. Another notable individual is Thomas Yarborough, who was mentioned in the Wills and Administrations of Lancashire in 1584.

Over the centuries, variations of the name, such as Yarborough, Yarbrough, and Yarberry have been noted in different parts of England and later in colonial America. One prominent figure was William Yarborough, who emigrated to the American colonies in the 17th century. He was born in 1642 and died in 1713, establishing a lineage that would spread across the United States.

During the 18th century, another famous person with this surname was Sir Thomas Yarborough, an English politician born in 1708 and who served as a Member of Parliament until his death in 1770. His involvement in political affairs underscored the prominence of the Yarboroughs in both social and economic spheres.

In more recent but still historical contexts, Fielding Lewis Yarbrough, born in 1861 and died in 1928, served as a notable judge and lawyer in the American South, contributing significantly to regional jurisprudence. Another distinguished individual, General William Yarborough (1912-2005), was a crucial figure in the development of modern U.S. Special Forces, known for his military innovation and leadership during World War II and the early years of the Cold War.

Over time, the surname has undergone various spellings and adaptations, spreading from its English roots to various parts of the world. The evolution of the name Yarbough and its variants highlights a rich tapestry of historical, socioeconomic, and geographic influences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yarbough

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

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

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

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