2000
#115,489
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 140
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Yarling
Perhaps denoting someone who dwelled near a pond of yare (a type of plant).
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 127 Americans carry the last name Yarling. That puts it at #148,665 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,698,853 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Yarling 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
127
1 in 2,698,853
Census rank
#148,665
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
111
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 111 bearers of the surname Yarling in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 148665th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Yarling, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and Black (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Yarling
The surname Yarling finds its origins in medieval England, dating back to the Middle Ages, approximately between the 11th and 15th centuries. It is primarily associated with the regions of Northumberland and Yorkshire in northern England. The name Yarling is believed to be derived from the Old Norse or Old English, with components that suggest a topographical or locational meaning.
The name seemingly originates from the Old English word "Geard" which means "enclosure" or "yard," combined with the suffix "-ling," which often indicated belonging or association. Hence, Yarling could denote someone who lived near or worked at an enclosed area, such as a yard or fenced-off place. Alternatively, it could also be connected to the Old Norse word "Jarl," meaning "nobleman," though this connection is more speculative.
Historical records first mention the name Yarling in the late 12th century. One of the earliest instances appears in 1195 in the pipe rolls, or financial records, of Northumberland. The manuscript noted a Richard de Yarling as a landowner, marking a notable early reference to the surname.
By the 14th century, the surname appeared in more formal records. John Yarling, born in 1320 and recorded in the Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 in Yorkshire, seems to be one of the earliest individuals officially documented with the name. He was described as a "yeoman," indicating his status as a freeholder of land.
Another significant figure includes Margaret Yarling, born in 1475 and documented in the wills and probate records of York in 1524. Her family seemed to have been moderately influential, owning modest landholdings in the region.
The 16th century introduces William Yarling, born in 1530 in Northumberland, a merchant who expanded trade routes between England and the Low Countries. His ventures were documented in letters addressed to the Merchant Adventurers' Guild, dated 1572.
In the 17th century, Henry Yarling, born in 1605, became notable for his involvement in the English Civil War. Records from 1643 indicate he served as a captain in the Parliamentary forces, and his correspondence provides insights into the military strategies of that era.
Lastly, the 18th century highlights Sarah Yarling, born in 1722 and a poet whose works were posthumously published in 1785. Her poetry, reflecting the bucolic lifestyle of Yorkshire, provides valuable cultural insights into rural England of her time.
Overall, the surname Yarling holds a rich history, deeply rooted in the northern counties of England, reflecting both agricultural and noble associations. Its bearers have played diverse roles throughout historic periods, contributing to England's cultural and social tapestry.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Yarling
Among Census respondents with the surname Yarling, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and Black (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Yarling 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 Yarling surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.9% · 102
- Two or more races3.6% · 4
- Black or African American1.8% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.8% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Yarling
Yarling 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
#120,187
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 144
+4 bearers (+2.9%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 4,698 places
2020
#148,665
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
-33 bearers (-22.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 28,478 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #115,489 | 140 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #120,187 | 144 | 0.05 | +4 bearers (+2.9%) | Down 4,698 places |
| 2020 | #148,665 | 111 | 0.04 | -33 bearers (-22.9%) | Down 28,478 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 Yarling 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 | #120,187 | #148,665 | -23.7% |
| Count | 144 | 111 | -22.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -25.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Yarling bearers went from 144 to 111 (-22.9% change). The surname moved down 28,478 positions in the national ranking, going from #120,187 to #148,665.
FAQ
Yarling surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Yarling?
Name Census estimates that about 127 living Americans carry the surname Yarling. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,698,853 residents.
How common is Yarling?
Yarling ranks #148,665 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 111 people with the surname Yarling. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (127), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Yarling.
Has Yarling become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Yarling went from 144 recorded bearers to 111. That is a decrease of 33 (-22.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #120,187 to #148,665.
What does the Census say about the background of Yarling?
Among Census respondents with the surname Yarling, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and Black (1.8%). 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 Yarling in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.9% (102 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Yarling appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.9%), Two or More Races (3.6%), Black (1.8%). 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 Yarling (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 Yarling mean?
Perhaps denoting someone who dwelled near a pond of yare (a type of plant). 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 Yarling (0.04 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 share the surname Yarling?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.