2000
#83,618
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 209
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.08
Very Rare Last name
Yellow
An English surname potentially derived from the Old English "geolu" meaning yellow or from a place name.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 398 Americans carry the last name Yellow. That puts it at #62,349 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 861,192 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Yellow surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Yellow with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
398
1 in 861,192
Census rank
#62,349
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
347
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 347 bearers of the surname Yellow in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 62349th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Yellow, the largest self-reported group is American Indian/Alaska Native at 61.1%. The next largest groups are White (18.2%) and Hispanic (8.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Yellow
The surname Yellow has an intriguing history rooted in the British Isles. Its origins can be traced back to medieval England, particularly around the 13th and 14th centuries. The name is generally considered to be an English surname, although there are instances of its presence in Scotland.
The etymology of Yellow likely derives from the Old English word geolu or geolwe, which means yellow. It could have been a descriptive nickname for someone who had yellow hair or a pale complexion, or even someone who wore yellow clothing. Some scholars also suggest that it could have been used metaphorically, perhaps to describe a person of lively and cheerful disposition.
One of the first recorded instances of the surname Yellow can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Essex in 1327, where a John Yelow is mentioned. This early documentation indicates the surname was used in records concerning taxation and other official matters.
Over time, the surname Yellow has appeared in various forms and spellings, reflecting the changing nature of the English language and regional dialects. In some records, variations like Yello, Yelowe, and Yolow have been noted. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that these different spellings often appear within the same family lines over generations.
An important historical figure bearing the surname Yellow is Ann Yellow, born circa 1645. She was one of the noted individuals during the English Civil War period, who sided with the Parliamentary forces. Although not a central figure, her role as a fervent supporter is documented in some local records of the time.
In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the surname Yellow was Thomas Yellow, born in 1723 in Norfolk. He was a landowner and farmer who contributed to the local agricultural developments of the period. His innovative farming techniques are occasionally referenced in agricultural manuscripts of the time.
In the 19th century, James Yellow, born in 1801, gained a degree of fame as a merchant who engaged in maritime trade between England and the Americas. His ventures are recorded in various trade logs and shipping registers of the time, reflecting the growing importance of transatlantic commerce.
Another significant individual is Margaret Yellow, born in 1865 in London, who was a prominent social reformer involved in the early feminist movement. Her efforts in advocating for women's rights are documented in various social reform publications.
Finally, in the early 20th century, Robert Yellow, born in 1892, served with distinction in World War I. His military records showcase his bravery and valor, earning him several commendations, including the Military Cross. His contributions are noted in the annals of British military history.
The surname Yellow, though not exceedingly common, has a rich and varied history marked by notable individuals who contributed to their communities and fields. It stands as a testament to the diverse and evolving nature of surnames within English heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Yellow
Among Census respondents with the surname Yellow, the largest self-reported group is American Indian/Alaska Native at 61.1%. The next largest groups are White (18.2%) and Hispanic (8.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Yellow bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Yellow surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- American Indian and Alaska Native61.1% · 212
- White18.2% · 63
- Hispanic or Latino8.9% · 31
- Black or African American6.3% · 22
- Two or more races3.5% · 12
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.0% · 7
Timeline
Historical Census data for Yellow
Yellow appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#73,464
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 264
+55 bearers (+26.3%)
Per 100,000 0.09
Rank movement Up 10,154 places
2020
#62,349
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 347
+83 bearers (+31.4%)
Per 100,000 0.12
Rank movement Up 11,115 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #83,618 | 209 | 0.08 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #73,464 | 264 | 0.09 | +55 bearers (+26.3%) | Up 10,154 places |
| 2020 | #62,349 | 347 | 0.12 | +83 bearers (+31.4%) | Up 11,115 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Yellow surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #73,464 | #62,349 | 15.1% |
| Count | 264 | 347 | 31.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.09 | 0.12 | 29.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Yellow bearers went from 264 to 347 (+31.4% change). The surname moved up 11,115 positions in the national ranking, going from #73,464 to #62,349.
FAQ
Yellow surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Yellow?
Name Census estimates that about 398 living Americans carry the surname Yellow. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 861,192 residents.
How common is Yellow?
Yellow ranks #62,349 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 347 people with the surname Yellow. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (398), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.12 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.12 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Yellow.
Has Yellow become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Yellow went from 264 recorded bearers to 347. That is an increase of 83 (+31.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #73,464 to #62,349.
What does the Census say about the background of Yellow?
Among Census respondents with the surname Yellow, the largest self-reported group is American Indian/Alaska Native at 61.1%. The next largest groups are White (18.2%) and Hispanic (8.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
American Indian/Alaska Native is the largest self-reported group for the surname Yellow in the 2020 Census, accounting for 61.1% (212 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Yellow appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are American Indian/Alaska Native (61.1%), White (18.2%), Hispanic (8.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Yellow (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Yellow mean?
An English surname potentially derived from the Old English "geolu" meaning yellow or from a place name. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Yellow (0.12 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Yellow?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.