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

Yarn, 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 Yarn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yarn in America

Yarn is the 52383rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yarn surname appeared 396 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 Yarn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yarn 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 Yarn

The surname Yarn likely has its origins in England during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "garn," which means yarn or thread. This indicates that the name may have been occupational in origin, referring to someone who worked with yarn or textiles.

The name Yarn can be traced back to certain regions in England, particularly in counties known for their textile industries, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. Historical records from these areas mention various individuals with the surname or its variations. For example, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists a John Yarner, which suggests the occupational link to yarn work.

One of the earliest known references to the surname appears in the English Pipe Rolls, where a Geoffrey de Yarne is mentioned in the year 1230. This suggests that the name was well established by the 13th century.

There are several notable individuals throughout history with the surname Yarn. William Yarn, born circa 1500, was a well-known textile merchant in the city of York. His involvement in the textile trade underscores the occupational origins of the surname. Another figure, Elizabeth Yarn, born in 1625, gained some recognition as an early Quaker who was active in the religious movement in Northern England.

The surname also appears in historical military records. Richard Yarn, who was born in 1784 and died in 1855, served as an officer during the Napoleonic Wars and is noted for his involvement in significant battles of the era. His service records have been preserved in various military archives.

Another notable individual, Thomas Yarn, was a famous 19th-century inventor from Lancashire. Born in 1832, Thomas was instrumental in creating several devices that improved the efficiency of textile manufacturing processes. His contributions are documented in industrial archives and patent records of the time.

Lastly, Mary Ann Yarn, born in 1871 and died in 1943, was a prominent social activist and author who wrote extensively about the working conditions of textile laborers. Her writings were influential in bringing about reforms in the textile industry.

The surname Yarn, while not exceedingly common, illustrates a rich history tied to the textile industry and has left its mark through notable individuals and contributions in various fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yarn

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

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

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

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