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

Yelin, 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 Yelin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yelin in America

Yelin is the 96799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yelin surname appeared 188 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 Yelin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yelin 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 Yelin

The surname Yelin is believed to have originated in Eastern Europe, specifically within the region now comprising Poland, Russia, and Belarus, during the High Middle Ages (approximately 1000-1300 AD). As with many surnames from this area, Yelin is likely derived from a native Slavic word or phrase.

The name Yelin may have originated from the Old Slavic word "yel" meaning "fir tree," signifying someone who lived near or worked with these trees. Alternatively, it could be connected to a name like Yehiel, which has Hebrew origins and means "God lives." This could indicate Jewish heritage, particularly among Ashkenazi Jews.

One of the earliest recorded references to a similar name appears in the 15th century in Poland, where a family by the name of Jelenski was noted in historical documents. This family name often denoted nobility or land ownership, marked in various Polish records.

By the late 17th century, the name Yelin appears in Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. As an example, Moshe Yelin, a rabbi and Torah scholar, was known to have lived in Galicia around 1780. His writings and religious teachings were documented in several local manuscripts, leaving a lasting legacy in Jewish theology.

In the 19th century, notable individuals bearing the surname Yelin emerged, including the Russian poet Boris Yelin, born in 1875. He was known for his works that captured the socio-political climates of his time. His poetry was widely published in literary journals until his death in 1922.

Another prominent figure was Uriel Yelin, an Israeli historian and linguist born in 1900. He contributed significantly to the study of Semitic languages and cultures, writing several authoritative texts on the subject. Uriel Yelin's impact extended well into the mid-20th century before his passing in 1965.

American history also records the Yelin surname with Samuel Yelin, a prominent ironworker and blacksmith who emigrated from Ukraine in 1906. Born in 1885, he became renowned for his ornamental iron works in major U.S. structures, including universities and cathedrals, until his death in 1940.

In recounting these historical figures and roots, the surname Yelin emerges as a name steeped in the diverse cultural and geographical tapestries of Eastern Europe and beyond. Its origins, affiliated through linguistic ties and historical migrations, highlight a rich heritage that continues to intrigue and inform.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yelin

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

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

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

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