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

Yater, 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 Yater surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yater in America

Yater is the 57914th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yater surname appeared 351 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 Yater.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yater 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 Yater

The surname Yater has its origins in England, with historical records dating back to the medieval period. The name is primarily toponymic, referring to someone who lived by a notable geographical feature. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "geat," meaning "gate," often indicative of a person who lived near a gate or entrance, especially one leading to a forest or an estate. Variations of the name include Yeat, Yates, and Yetter, all of which suggest the importance of gates or entrances in their naming conventions.

The surname Yater first appeared in written records during the 14th century. Instances of the name can be found in tax rolls and legal documents from that time. An early reference to the name can be traced to the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a Robert Yater is listed. This implies that the name was already established as a familial identifier by the late 14th century.

Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals with the Yater surname. John Yater, born in 1502, served as a minor official in the court of Henry VIII. He played a role in local governance in the county of Cheshire. Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Yater, who emigrated to the American colonies in 1623. He settled in the Plymouth Colony and was part of the early wave of English migration to New England.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Yater surname continued to be recognized in various regions of England and America. William Yater, born in 1646, was a prominent merchant in London. His business dealings brought him into contact with influential figures of the time, adding some degree of prestige to the name. Another example is Elizabeth Yater, born in 1720, who became known for her charitable works in Kent, helping to establish several local almshouses.

As the name spread, its variations, including Yates and Yetter, became more prevalent. Each variation maintained a distinct yet related identity, emphasizing the geographical nature of the name. The Yater surname persisted into the 19th century, with individuals such as Robert Yater, born in 1803, who was noted for his contributions to agricultural advancements in the Midlands. His work was recognized in several agricultural journals of the period, and he played a significant role in introducing crop rotation techniques to local farmers.

Overall, the surname Yater has a rich history rooted in its English origins, with significant contributions from bearers of the name across centuries. The name’s evolution and prominence in both England and America underline its longstanding heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yater

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

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

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

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