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

Yeon, 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 Yeon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yeon in America

Yeon is the 52619th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yeon surname appeared 394 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 Yeon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yeon 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 Yeon

The surname Yeon is of Korean origin and can be traced back to ancient times in the Korean peninsula. The use of the name is primarily found in South Korea, where surnames are often deeply rooted in the country's history and culture. The character 연 (Yeon) means "flame" or "beautiful" in Korean and is used in various contexts but primarily as a surname and element in given names.

One of the older recorded instances of the surname Yeon is associated with the historical figure Yeon Gaesomun (603-666), a powerful military general during the Goguryeo dynasty, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. His influence was pivotal in maintaining the kingdom's strength against Tang dynasty China. The Goguryeo kingdom roughly covered what is now North Korea and parts of northeastern China.

During the Unified Silla period (668-935), records show the presence of several families bearing the Yeon surname. While exact records from this period are sparse, the continued acknowledgment of Yeon families in historical documents suggests their active role within the societal framework of Silla.

The Yeon surname also appears in Goryeo dynasty records. For example, Yeon Cheon, who lived during the reign of King Taejo (918–943), was recognized for his contributions to the unification efforts of the kingdoms. Additionally, the scholar Yeon Pil-woo, born in 1004, made significant contributions to the Goryeo dynasty's scholastic achievements, playing a notable role in literature and education.

An example of some early spellings related to the name can be traced to "Yeonbu," a district that became prominent during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). The Yeon family members during this era were involved in various governmental and civil roles, showcasing the surname's integration within influential ranks of society.

Yeon Yang-seok (1559-1617), another notable historical figure, was known for his philosophical works during the late Joseon period. His writings and teachings were influential in the development of Korean Confucianism and are still studied today by scholars of Korean history and philosophy.

Another historical figure bearing the surname is Yeon Hyo-jin (1727-1792), who was part of the influential administrative bureaus during King Yeongjo's reign, contributing to the reforms in agricultural policies and bureaucratic restructuring.

The surname Yeon, through various historical epochs and domains, underscores a rich legacy tied to military prowess, intellectual contributions, and administrative significance in Korean history. Each noted individual exemplifies the diverse contributions of people bearing the surname Yeon over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yeon

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!