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

Yent, 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 Yent surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Yent in America

Yent is the 142819th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yent surname appeared 107 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Yent.

The history of the last name Yent

The surname Yent is believed to have originated in Eastern Europe, particularly within the Jewish communities of Poland and Lithuania. The earliest roots of the name can be traced back to the 15th and 16th centuries in these regions. Yent is thought to derive from the Yiddish word "yente," which historically functioned as a given name for women, akin to the name "Jenta" or "Yentl." The closest linguistic connection is with "Yenta," a term used in Eastern European Jewish communities, which may have evolved into a family surname over time.

Historical references to the name Yent are sparse but notable. One of the earliest mentions believed to be related is found in Jewish community records from the mid-16th century in Lithuania. The phonetically similar name "Yenta" has been seen in Jewish marriage and birth records dating back to this era, signifying its established presence in Eastern European Jewish culture.

One of the earliest recorded examples of a person with the surname Yent is Abram Yent, who appeared in Polish records in the early 17th century. Abram was noted in the records of Jewish merchants and was active around 1625. Another early figure is Leah Yent, recorded in Lithuanian community documents in 1657. Leah was known for her involvement in local education initiatives and community support roles.

The surname continued to appear in various legal and community records throughout the centuries. For instance, Moshe Yent, born in 1721 and died in 1784, was a well-known Talmudic scholar in Vilnius, Lithuania. His contributions to Jewish scholarship were significant, and his family name endured through his descendants.

In the 19th century, the name Yent surfaced in immigration records as Eastern European Jews moved to other parts of the world, escaping persecution and seeking better opportunities. One notable figure is Rachel Yent, who emigrated to New York City in 1882. Rachel became a prominent figure in the Lower East Side's Jewish community, where she worked as a midwife and community organizer.

Further into history, during the early 20th century, Eliyahu Yent was known for his work as a journalist in Warsaw, Poland. Born in 1898, he documented the lives of Jewish communities and their traditions, contributing significantly to the preservation of cultural history until his death in 1942 during the Holocaust.

The name Yent, while not extremely common, carries a rich history tied deeply to Eastern European Jewish heritage. The legacy of the Yent surname reflects a tapestry of community involvement, scholarship, and cultural preservation across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yent

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Yent 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.

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

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

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