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

Yehya, 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 Yehya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yehya in America

Yehya is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yehya surname appeared 120 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 Yehya.

The history of the last name Yehya

The surname Yehya has its origins in the Middle East, specifically within Arabic-speaking regions. The name dates back to ancient times and is deeply rooted in Islamic culture. It first appeared in historical records from the region that comprises modern-day Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and parts of the Levant.

The name Yehya is derived from the Arabic verb "ḥayyā," which means "to live" or "to give life." The surname is often associated with the Arabic given name Yahya, which is the Arabic form of John, as in John the Baptist. The association with Yahya is significant in Islamic history, as John the Baptist is recognized as a prophet in Islam.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Yehya can be traced back to medieval Islamic manuscripts. These documents contain accounts of scholars and key figures who were bearers of the surname. For example, the historian Yahya ibn al-Bitriq, who lived in the 9th century, made significant contributions to the translation of Greek texts into Arabic. His works are crucial in understanding the transmission of classical knowledge to the Islamic world.

In Andalusian Spain, during the Islamic Golden Age, the polymath Yahya ibn al-Hakam, also known as Al-Ghazal, emerged as a prominent figure. Born around 804 AD, he was an ambassador, poet, and scientist whose diplomatic missions and literary contributions have left an indelible mark on history. His travelogues provide invaluable insights into the cultural exchanges between the Islamic and Christian worlds.

Moving forward to the Ottoman Empire, Yehya Kemal Beyatlı was an influential poet and writer born in 1884. He played a considerable role in Turkish literature and nationalism during the late Ottoman period and early years of the Turkish Republic. His literary works continue to be celebrated for their lyrical beauty and nationalistic themes.

In the 20th century, another notable historical figure with the surname was Yehya Sinai from Egypt. Born in 1904, Sinai was a pioneer in modern Egyptian journalism and a key figure in the Egyptian renaissance who worked for the renowned newspaper Al-Ahram. His contributions significantly influenced contemporary Egyptian thought and media.

The surname Yehya also made an appearance in the academic world through Yehya Mansour, a prominent Jordanian mathematician born in 1962. Mansour made substantial contributions to the fields of computational theory and algorithms, earning accolades and recognition globally.

Throughout history, the surname Yehya has held a place of respect and distinction, associated with intellectual, cultural, and scientific advancements. The name's enduring presence across various regions and time periods highlights its significant cultural and historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yehya

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

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 Yehya 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.

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

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

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