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

Yeh, 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 Yeh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yeh in America

Yeh is the 5046th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yeh surname appeared 6,958 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Yeh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yeh 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 Yeh

The surname YEH is of Chinese origin, primarily found in regions such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and parts of mainland China. It is believed to have originated during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) when surnames became more widespread among the general population.

One of the earliest known references to the YEH surname can be traced back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where it appeared in various local records and historical chronicles. The name is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "ye" (葉), which means "leaf" or "foliage." This suggests that the surname may have been associated with individuals who lived near leafy areas or worked with plants.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the YEH surname gained prominence in the southern regions of China, particularly in Fujian and Guangdong provinces. Notable figures from this period include Yeh Sheng (1420-1474), a renowned scholar and poet, and Yeh Xian (1464-1551), a celebrated military strategist.

As the Chinese diaspora spread across Asia and beyond, the YEH surname became more widely distributed. In the 17th century, a branch of the Yeh family settled in Taiwan, where they played a significant role in the island's history. One prominent member was Yeh Kung-cho (1625-1690), a respected scholar and calligrapher.

Moving into the modern era, several individuals with the YEH surname have made significant contributions in various fields. Yeh Shan-shan (1908-1988) was a celebrated Chinese writer and translator, known for her works on Western literature. Yeh Faisha (1926-2008) was a renowned Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist, while Yeh Shen-tao (1926-2023) was a respected academic and historian in Taiwan.

Other notable figures include Yeh Hsueh-chi (1935-2012), a prominent Taiwanese politician and diplomat, and Yeh Chu-ying (1942-2020), a celebrated Taiwanese baseball player and coach.

While the YEH surname is most commonly associated with China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, it has also been adopted by individuals in other parts of the world, reflecting the far-reaching influence of Chinese culture and migration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yeh

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

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

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

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