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

Yaughn, 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 Yaughn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yaughn in America

Yaughn is the 100791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yaughn surname appeared 179 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 Yaughn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yaughn 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 Yaughn

The surname Yaughn appears to be of relatively obscure origin, with no direct references in major historical records such as the Domesday Book. However, linguistic analysis suggests that Yaughn may have originated as an Anglicization of a similar-sounding Gaelic or Welsh surname, possibly relating to the various Anglicized forms of Welsh and Irish names that began appearing in English records during the medieval period. Given the phonetic construction, it is reasonable to suggest that the surname may have its roots in early medieval Wales or Ireland. The root "Yaugh" potentially shares phonetic similarities with the Welsh "Ieuan" (a form of John) or the Irish "Eóghan" (meaning "born of the yew tree").

The earliest documented instance of a name resembling Yaughn occurs in the late 16th century, when a record from 1597 mentions a William Yaughn in Pembrokeshire, Wales. This closely aligns with the regional propensity for names of Celtic origin being adapted into English forms. By the 17th century, the Yaughn surname surfaces in various legal and parish records in both Wales and the western parts of England, indicating migration and the establishment of familial lines.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Yaughn is Robert Yaughn, recorded in the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London in 1623. This suggests the spread of the surname into more urbanized areas during the early 17th century. Another individual, Thomas Yaughn, appears in the records of the Virginia Colony in 1648, indicating that individuals with this surname were among the early settlers in North America, contributing to the colonization efforts of the period.

By the 18th century, the Yaughn surname can be found in various parish records in both Wales and England. A record from 1743 mentions a Margaret Yaughn in Cardiff, Wales, illustrating the localized persistence of the surname. In 1761, Elizabeth Yaughn appeared in records from Bristol, England, indicating the name's spread across different English counties.

In the early 19th century, John Yaughn, born in 1801 in Carmarthenshire, Wales, was a prominent local figure known for his writings on Welsh folklore. His publications contributed to the preservation of regional cultural heritage and underscored the continuity of the surname in its region of origin.

By tracing the appearances and variations of the surname Yaughn over centuries, it is evident that while the name may not have been widespread or particularly prominent, it has persisted through centuries of linguistic and geographical shifts. Although the Yaughn surname does not boast extensive historical records or famous bearers, the documented instances provide a window into its enduring legacy in Welsh and English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yaughn

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

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

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

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