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

Yemm, 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 Yemm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yemm in America

Yemm is the 85357th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yemm surname appeared 219 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 Yemm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yemm 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 Yemm

The surname Yemm is believed to have originated in Britain, specifically in England. The etymological roots of the name can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is from regions where Anglo-Saxon and Norman influences were particularly strong. The name's origin is likely locational, deriving from the old words or place names such as "Yemms," "Yeoman," or a variation thereof, which denoted an individual who was a landowner or a prosperous farmer.

The spelling of surnames was not standardized until relatively recent times, so historical records show variations such as Yemes, Yeme, and Yom. These spellings can be seen in various old manuscripts and parish records. Early records of the Yemm surname can be found in early English documents, though explicit references in prominent records like the Domesday Book are not evident. The name does appear in various regional records from Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Yemm dates back to the 14th century with John Yemm, whose name appears in a 1379 tax return in Gloucestershire. This individual may have been a notable landowner or involved in local governance, as tax returns often included prominent community members.

In the 16th century, another notable individual was Thomas Yemm, born approximately in 1520 and recorded in church registries in Worcester. His presence in historical records suggests he could have been a person of some social standing within his community.

Elizabeth Yemm, born in 1634, is another early record and was part of the parish records in Gloucestershire. Her existence in historical documents indicates the family's presence remained steady in the region over the centuries. These records underscore the continuity of the Yemm surname in English history.

Moving to the 18th century, another individual of note is William Yemm, born in 1785 in Worcester. His name appears in various civil documents, including property records and probate registries, which indicates the family's continued social presence.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Edward Yemm, born in 1824, can be found in the industrial era census data, specifically in records related to the burgeoning industrial economy of the West Midlands. His contributions to his local community, possibly as a laborer or tradesperson, suggest the adaptation of the Yemm family to changing societal dynamics.

Overall, the Yemm surname has deep-rooted connections to England, particularly in the regions of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, and signifies an enduring familial presence over the centuries. Its varying spellings and presence in historical records point to a family that has been an intrinsic part of the local fabric for many generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yemm

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

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

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

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