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

Yavuz, 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 Yavuz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yavuz in America

Yavuz is the 95545th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yavuz surname appeared 191 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 Yavuz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yavuz 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 Yavuz

The surname Yavuz has its origins in Turkey, specifically during the Ottoman period. The name traces back to the Turkish word "yavuz," which means fierce, stern, or formidable. It likely came into greater use during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, a period of significant expansion and consolidation for the Ottoman Empire.

One of the earliest and most notable historical references to this surname is associated with Sultan Selim I (1470-1520), who was commonly known as Selim Yavuz, or Yavuz Sultan Selim. His epithet, Yavuz, meaning "the Stern" or "the Grim," was reflective of his powerful and often ruthless reign. Selim I was born on 10 October 1470, and his conquests included extending the empire's reach into the Middle East, profoundly influencing the socio-political landscape. His death on 22 September 1520 marked the end of a transformative era in Ottoman history.

Another historical figure bearing the surname is Cevat Yavuz, an Ottoman army officer whose precise dates of birth and death are less documented. He had a notable career during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the context of World War I, playing a significant role in military strategies and campaigns.

During the early 20th century, Fevzi Yavuz, born in 1883, was a prominent Turkish politician and a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP). His contributions were integral to the foundation of modern Turkey after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. He passed away in 1968, having witnessed and influenced much of Turkey's dramatic transition.

In the realm of intellectual and cultural contribution, İsmail Hakkı Yavuz, born in 1900 and died in 1978, was a noted Turkish writer and poet. His literary works often reflected the social issues and the cultural renaissance happening in Turkey during his lifetime, marking him as an influential figure in Turkish literature.

Yılmaz Yavuz, who lived between 1915 and 1995, was an influential figure in the Turkish educational system. As an academic and an advocate for modernized educational reforms, his efforts were pivotal in shaping the country's educational policies during the mid-20th century. His legacy includes numerous publications and the establishment of several educational institutions that continue to operate to this day.

The surname Yavuz remains a prominent and respected name in Turkish history, symbolizing strength, diligence, and impactful contributions across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yavuz

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

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

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

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