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

Yenny, 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 Yenny surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yenny in America

Yenny is the 124548th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yenny surname appeared 138 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 Yenny.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yenny 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 Yenny

The surname Yenny has roots that can be traced back to several regions and linguistic origins, making its etymology particularly fascinating. The name is believed to have multiple sources, reflecting the diverse histories and migrations of the families that bore it. Primarily, it seems to originate from both Germanic and Scandinavian roots, specifically tied to regions that now encompass parts of modern Germany, Denmark, and Sweden.

In Germanic contexts, Yenny is thought to be a variant of the surname Jenny or Janny, derived from the Middle High German forms "Janne" or "Johan" which were themselves pet forms of the name Johannes (John). This name carries the meaning "God is gracious" and has been popular throughout European history due to its biblical origins. Historical records from as far back as the 12th and 13th centuries in what is now Germany include mentions of this surname, often in the context of feudal records and property registers.

The Scandinavian connection to the surname Yenny might trace back to the Old Norse personal name "Jóhanna" or "Jöhanna", which again stems from the Latin Johannes. The suffix "y" or "i" was often added as a diminutive form in Scandinavian languages during the medieval period. Places like Denmark and Sweden would have seen this name transform and evolve as it was passed down generations, ultimately leading to the Yenny surname.

One notable early record includes a Hans Yenny mentioned in a deed from 1424 in Saxony, Germany, where he was listed as a witness to a land grant. Another early reference is found in a 1548 record from the Hanseatic League city of Lübeck, where a merchant named Dietrich Yenny was noted for his trade activities across the Baltic Sea.

Several individuals of historical significance have carried the Yenny surname. Johan Philip Yenny, born in 1678 in Hamburg, was a noted painter who contributed significantly to the Baroque art movement. Maria Sophia Yenny, born 1756 in Copenhagen, was a renowned poet whose works remain studied in Scandinavian literature. The Yenny surname also appears in the records of immigrants who traveled to North America during the 18th and 19th centuries, reflecting the Atlantic migrations and settlements.

A prominent figure, Friedrich Yenny, born in 1834, was an influential chemist in Zurich who made several important discoveries in organic chemistry. Additionally, Elise Yenny, an early 20th-century social reformer born in Stockholm in 1891, was known for her work in women’s rights and education reform across Sweden.

Overall, the surname Yenny tells a rich tale of migration, linguistic evolution, and notable contributions across different fields and regions. Its varied spellings and occurrences in historical records reflect the diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the people who have carried this name through the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yenny

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

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

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

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