2000
#14,219
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,936
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.72
Rare Last name
Yarger
A German occupational surname referring to a hunter or gamekeeper, derived from the Middle High German word "jeger."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,172 Americans carry the last name Yarger. That puts it at #14,982 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 157,806 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Yarger surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.2K
1 in 157,806
Census rank
#14,982
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,894 bearers of the surname Yarger in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14982nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Yarger, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.9%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Yarger
The surname Yarger is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the medieval era. The name is thought to have derived from the Old German word "gerr," which means "spear" or "javelin," suggesting that the name may have referred to a person who was skilled in the use of such weapons.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yarger can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the 12th century. This codex contains references to individuals with the surname Yarger, indicating that the name was already in use during that time period.
In the 14th century, the name Yarger appeared in various records and manuscripts from the region of Württemberg, Germany. These documents often referred to individuals with the name as landowners or members of the local nobility, suggesting that the Yarger family held a prominent position within their community.
During the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Yarger was Hans Yarger (1512-1578), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and was known for his extensive writings on theological subjects.
Another notable individual with the surname Yarger was Johann Yarger (1634-1701), a German composer and organist who lived during the Baroque period. He was renowned for his contributions to sacred music and served as the court organist for the Duke of Württemberg.
In the 18th century, the name Yarger gained prominence in the region of Bavaria, with several families bearing the name holding positions of influence within their local communities. One such individual was Friedrich Yarger (1745-1822), a prominent lawyer and judge who served in the courts of Munich.
Throughout the 19th century, the Yarger name continued to be found in various parts of Germany, with several individuals making significant contributions in fields such as academia, literature, and the arts. One notable figure was Karl Yarger (1818-1892), a German poet and novelist whose works explored themes of romanticism and the human condition.
While the surname Yarger has its roots firmly planted in German history, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and migration patterns. However, the name's origins and significance remain closely tied to its Germanic heritage, reflecting the rich cultural and historical tapestry of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Yarger
Among Census respondents with the surname Yarger, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.9%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Yarger bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Yarger surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.0% · 1,761
- Two or more races2.9% · 55
- Hispanic or Latino2.0% · 38
- Black or African American1.2% · 23
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 11
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 6
Timeline
Historical Census data for Yarger
Yarger appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#15,201
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,938
+2 bearers (+0.1%)
Per 100,000 0.66
Rank movement Down 982 places
2020
#14,982
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,894
-44 bearers (-2.3%)
Per 100,000 0.63
Rank movement Up 219 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #14,219 | 1,936 | 0.72 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #15,201 | 1,938 | 0.66 | +2 bearers (+0.1%) | Down 982 places |
| 2020 | #14,982 | 1,894 | 0.63 | -44 bearers (-2.3%) | Up 219 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Yarger surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,201 | #14,982 | 1.4% |
| Count | 1,938 | 1,894 | -2.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.66 | 0.63 | -4.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Yarger bearers went from 1,938 to 1,894 (-2.3% change). The surname moved up 219 positions in the national ranking, going from #15,201 to #14,982.
FAQ
Yarger surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Yarger?
Name Census estimates that about 2,172 living Americans carry the surname Yarger. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 157,806 residents.
How common is Yarger?
Yarger ranks #14,982 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,894 people with the surname Yarger. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,172), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.63 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.63 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Yarger.
Has Yarger become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Yarger went from 1,938 recorded bearers to 1,894. That is a decrease of 44 (-2.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #15,201 to #14,982.
What does the Census say about the background of Yarger?
Among Census respondents with the surname Yarger, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.9%) and Hispanic (2.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Yarger in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.0% (1,761 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Yarger appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.0%), Two or More Races (2.9%), Hispanic (2.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Yarger (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Yarger mean?
A German occupational surname referring to a hunter or gamekeeper, derived from the Middle High German word "jeger." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Yarger (0.63 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Yarger?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.