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

Yela, 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 Yela surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yela in America

Yela is the 107134th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yela surname appeared 166 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 Yela.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yela 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 Yela

The surname Yela is believed to have origins rooted in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically Spain. The etymology suggests that it may derive from geographical or topographical features, characteristic in nature to help identify individuals by location. The earliest version of the surname Yela appears to be connected to places named similarly, potentially indicative of a region dense with features such as hills or woody landscapes, as these characteristics were commonly factored into medieval surnames.

During the time period of the Middle Ages, Spain saw the regular use of surnames to distinguish between large numbers of people. Early records show that the name Yela appeared in various manuscripts and land records of the period. One of the earliest recorded examples can be found in the archives of various Spanish localities, although precise early documentation is scarce, reflecting a common issue in medieval records preservation.

A significant historical reference to the surname Yela is found circa the late 14th century in Castile, one of the medieval kingdoms of Spain. Catalina de Yela, born around 1380, is one of the earliest known figures with this surname. She is documented in local land records, contributing to the ancestral legacy of the name in the region.

As time progressed, the surname Yela remained relatively localized, with additional prominence noted in the region of La Mancha. In the 16th century, Francisco de Yela, who lived from approximately 1525 to 1590, was a notable figure involved in local governance. His contributions were recorded in municipal documents, enhancing the visibility of the surname in Spanish historical texts.

Moving to the 17th century, the name Yela continued to persist in Spanish records. Isabel de Yela, born around 1630, gained recognition herself notably due to a rather unique mention in religious documents that hinted at her patronage to a local church in La Mancha. Such records amplify the cultural and societal impact of the surname Yela during this period.

Further evidence of the Yela surname appears in the 18th century. Cristóbal Yela, an influential figure born in 1695, served in various civic positions. His extensive involvement in the local administration is well-documented and provides a testament to the enduring nature of the surname in these regions.

In the 19th century, José María de Yela, born in 1802, was a renowned academic associated with the University of Salamanca. His scholarly contributions to literature and history have left a lasting imprint, marking the surname's association with intellectual pursuit.

Throughout history, the Yela surname has been tightly interwoven with the social and geographical fabric of Spain. Originating from areas identifiable by their geographical features, it moved beyond mere identification markers to signify notable familial legacies entrenched in academia, governance, and religious patronage. The surname Yela, while specific, offers profound glimpses into the historical threads of regions within Spain from medieval periods to more recent centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yela

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

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

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

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