2000
#111,119
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 147
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Yelm
A surname of English origins possibly related to the place name Elme, meaning "elm tree."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 201 Americans carry the last name Yelm. That puts it at #108,023 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,705,245 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Yelm 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.
Bearers in the US
201
1 in 1,705,245
Census rank
#108,023
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
175
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 175 bearers of the surname Yelm in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 108023rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Yelm, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.7%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Yelm
The surname Yelm has its origins in the Scandinavian countries, specifically from the region that encompasses modern-day Sweden and Norway. It is believed to have emerged during the late Viking Age, around the 10th to 11th centuries. Linguistically, the name is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "hjálmr," which means "helmet" or "protection." This suggests that the original bearers of the name were likely warriors or individuals who held some form of responsibility for protection in their communities.
Historically, the name Yelm first appears in medieval Scandinavian records. One of the earliest mentions of a similar name is found in the Icelandic sagas, dating back to the 12th century, though with slight variations such as Hjalmr or Hjelm. These documents recount the tales of Norse heroes and chieftains, some of whom may have borne the name Yelm.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname in a more modern form is in the 14th century, when a Magnus Yelm is noted in Swedish tax registers of the time. Magnus Yelm (born 1327, died 1398) was a landowner in the region surrounding Uppsala. His property records indicate he was a person of considerable influence, likely involved in both local governance and military endeavors.
Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname appears sporadically in various documents. In 1483, a Torbjörn Yelm is recorded as a merchant in Stockholm. He traded extensively with the Hanseatic League, indicating the commercial reach and significance of his endeavors. Torbjörn Yelm's business dealings were instrumental in the economic framework of Stockholm during a period of burgeoning international trade.
In the early 17th century, the name appears in Norwegian records with Lars Yelm, who was a notable figure during the Kalmar War (1611-1613). Lars Yelm (1591-1643) served as a captain in the Norwegian army, distinguishing himself in several key battles. His leadership and tactical acumen earned him recognition and a modest estate granted by the crown.
During the 18th century, the Yelm surname can be traced to rural parish registers. In 1749, Johan Yelm is listed as a prominent farmer and local magistrate in the Jönköping County of Sweden. Johan Yelm (1715-1782) played a crucial role in local administrative affairs and was known for his contributions to agricultural innovations in his district.
The early 19th century saw the name Yelm in a different context. Anders Yelm (1780-1854) was a well-known artisan and blacksmith in Gothenburg, Sweden. His craftsmanship in creating intricate and durable metalworks gained him considerable fame, and some of his works are displayed in museums today.
These historical references provide a glimpse into the widespread influence and varied occupations of individuals bearing the Yelm surname across Scandinavia. The name's strong associations with protection, commerce, military service, local governance, agriculture, and craft reflect a rich and diverse heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Yelm
Among Census respondents with the surname Yelm, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.7%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Yelm 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 Yelm surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.9% · 159
- Hispanic or Latino5.7% · 10
- Two or more races1.7% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1% · 2
- Black or African American0.6% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Yelm
Yelm 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
#126,765
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 135
-12 bearers (-8.2%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 15,646 places
2020
#108,023
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 175
+40 bearers (+29.6%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Up 18,742 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #111,119 | 147 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #126,765 | 135 | 0.05 | -12 bearers (-8.2%) | Down 15,646 places |
| 2020 | #108,023 | 175 | 0.06 | +40 bearers (+29.6%) | Up 18,742 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 Yelm 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 | #126,765 | #108,023 | 14.8% |
| Count | 135 | 175 | 29.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.06 | 17.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Yelm bearers went from 135 to 175 (+29.6% change). The surname moved up 18,742 positions in the national ranking, going from #126,765 to #108,023.
FAQ
Yelm surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Yelm?
Name Census estimates that about 201 living Americans carry the surname Yelm. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,705,245 residents.
How common is Yelm?
Yelm ranks #108,023 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.06 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 175 people with the surname Yelm. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (201), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.06 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.06 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 Yelm.
Has Yelm become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Yelm went from 135 recorded bearers to 175. That is an increase of 40 (+29.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #126,765 to #108,023.
What does the Census say about the background of Yelm?
Among Census respondents with the surname Yelm, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.7%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Yelm in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.9% (159 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Yelm appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.9%), Hispanic (5.7%), Two or More Races (1.7%). 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 Yelm (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 Yelm mean?
A surname of English origins possibly related to the place name Elme, meaning "elm tree." 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 Yelm (0.06 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 common is the surname Yelm?
Find out how many people are called Yelm on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.