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

Yarnes, 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 Yarnes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yarnes in America

Yarnes is the 109258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yarnes surname appeared 162 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 Yarnes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yarnes 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 Yarnes

The surname Yarnes is believed to have its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a variant of the surname Yearnes or Yarns, which was predominantly found in areas such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name is thought to be a topographical surname, derived from an old English word "gēarn," which refers to yarn or thread, suggesting that the name could be associated with someone who worked in the textile industry.

Early records indicate that surnames related to Yarnes appeared in various forms, reflecting the phonetic spelling norms of the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of a related surname is found in the 1379 Poll Tax records from Yorkshire, where a Johannes de Yarnes is mentioned. This record supports the hypothesis that the surname had established roots in the north of England by the 14th century.

Throughout history, multiple variants of the surname have been recorded, such as Yern, Yarn, and Yearn. These spellings indicate geographic and social mobility, as the name bearers moved and adapted to different linguistic environments. In the late 15th century, a Richard Yearns appears in land grants in Lancashire. His records suggest that he was a yeoman, indicating the name had by then become associated with local gentry.

By the 16th century, the surname had stabilized into forms more recognizable today. In 1542, a Thomas Yarnes is recorded in a marriage register in East Riding of Yorkshire. His descendants continued to use the Yarnes spelling, enriching the local historical tapestry. Thomas Yarnes, born in 1620 and dying in 1684, is noted for being a merchant in Newcastle, illustrating a shift from rural to urban realms, partly driven by economic changes of the period.

In the subsequent centuries, the name traversed beyond England. One notable 18th-century figure is Captain William Yarnes, born in 1734 and died in 1791, who was known for his voyages with the British East India Company. His journeys brought the name Yarnes to distant lands, specifically in trade ports such as Bombay and Canton.

In the 19th century, Charles Yarnes, born in 1815 and passing in 1873, emerges as a significant figure. A prominent industrialist in Lancashire, his life reflects the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the lineage. With the development of cotton mills and mechanized weaving, the surname rekindled its etymological roots in the textile industry.

Notably, the surname has made its mark across centuries, evolving through varied spellings and influenced by economic, social, and geographic factors while retaining its primal connection to the textile heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yarnes

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

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

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

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