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

Yarnall, 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 Yarnall surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yarnall in America

Yarnall is the 20780th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yarnall surname appeared 1,271 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 Yarnall.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yarnall 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 Yarnall

The surname Yarnall has its origins in England and can be traced back several centuries. The name is largely believed to derive from the Old English words "earn" meaning eagle, and "halh," which denotes a nook or valley. This etymology suggests that the original bearers of the name may have lived in a secluded area frequented by eagles, or merely in a nook or corner of land.

Yarnall first surfaces in historical records during the High Middle Ages. Specifically, it can be traced to the counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. In these regions, variations of the surname such as Yarnold and Yarndell have been documented. These spellings indicate slight regional linguistic differences and the fluid nature of surname orthography during these early periods. References to the surname can be found in manorial rolls, tax records, and parish registers, some dating as far back as the late 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of the county of Cheshire in 1327, where a Hugo Yarnolde is listed. It is notable that surnames during this period were not fixed and could vary significantly even within the same family line. These records highlight the name's deep roots within the region and provide a glimpse into the socioeconomic activities of its bearers.

The Yarnall surname is also linked to place names and local geography. There's an area known as Yarnolds in Cheshire, which reinforces the likelihood that the surname was originally toponymic, referring to someone who hailed from this specific locale. Additionally, in the Domesday Book of 1086, while the name Yarnall itself does not appear, similar early forms and derivations exist in the recorded names of minor landowners and tenants-in-chief.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Yarnall surname. Among them is Thomas Yarnall, born in 1652, who emigrated to the American colonies and was one of the early Quaker settlers in Pennsylvania. His descendants played integral roles in the development of the Quaker community in the New World. Another was Joseph Yarnall, born in 1755, who served as a captain during the American Revolutionary War and significantly contributed to the colonial fight for independence.

Moving into the 19th century, Reuben Yarnall, born in 1793, made his mark as an influential farmer and community leader in Ohio. His efforts were instrumental in agricultural development and local governance. In the realm of politics, Ellis Yarnall, born in 1841, served with distinction as a state legislator in Pennsylvania and was known for his advocacy of educational reforms.

Francis Yarnall, born in 1865, became an accomplished engineer whose contributions to early infrastructure projects in the northeastern United States were highly regarded. His engineering works, particularly in the design and construction of bridges, left a lasting legacy in public works.

The Yarnall surname has traversed through time and geography, undergoing slight variations yet consistently maintaining its connection to its early English roots. The bearers of the name have contributed significantly across various fields, leaving an indelible mark in historical records and societal development.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yarnall

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

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

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

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