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

Yeakey, 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 Yeakey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yeakey in America

Yeakey is the 43006th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yeakey surname appeared 503 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 Yeakey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yeakey 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 Yeakey

The surname Yeakey is believed to have originated from the British Isles, primarily England, where surnames began to be used more regularly from the 11th century. The name likely has roots in the Old English or Middle English period, which spans roughly from the 5th to the 15th century. The areas from which it might have originated could be specific rural regions where variations of the name developed due to dialectal influences.

The surname Yeakey possibly derives from a place name or a descriptor of a geographic feature. One theory suggests it may be rooted in an older spelling or phonetic variation of a word used to describe land features. The Old English term "ēa" can refer to a river or flowing water, thus the name Yeakey may have originally referred to a person who lived by or was associated with a body of water.

Historical references to the surname Yeakey are scarce, but records dating back to medieval England do show similar surnames like Yakley or Yeakley, indicating a phonetic evolution of the name over time. Such variations are found in parish registers and early census records.

One of the earliest recorded examples of a similar surname is John Yeakley, who appears in records from the 14th century in Yorkshire. Another historical figure bearing a variant of this surname is Thomas Yakley, who was a landowner in Lancashire documented in the late 15th century.

The spelling variations continued into later centuries, with a notable example being Robert Yeakey, a 17th-century farmer from Cheshire whose name appears in court documents related to land disputes. Such references illustrate the geographic spread and evolution of the surname throughout England.

There were also individuals such as Mary Yeakey, born in 1725, in Warwickshire, an early settler who relocated to the American colonies in the mid-18th century. Her descendants maintained the Yeakey surname, contributing to its presence in North America.

Another notable person is Samuel Yeakey, born in 1789, who served as a militia captain during the War of 1812. His military service records and other personal documents provide insight into the use and maintenance of the surname through this period.

By the 19th century, Joseph Yeakey, born in 1835, became a prominent merchant in London, adding to the historical tapestry of the name. His business ventures and social engagements were frequently documented in local newspapers.

The Yeakey surname, while not widely prevalent, has a rich history tied to both England and early American settlements. Its roots suggest a geographic connection, evolving through various spellings and pronunciations over centuries, illustrating the dynamic history of surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yeakey

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

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

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

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