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

Yeong, 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 Yeong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yeong in America

Yeong is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yeong surname appeared 123 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 Yeong.

The history of the last name Yeong

The surname Yeong has its origins in East Asia, specifically from Korea, where it is a common surname. It is derived from the hanja (Chinese characters used in Korean) 永, which means "eternal" or "perpetual." This name has been used for centuries in Korean culture and has historical significance given its connotation of longevity and continuity.

Yeong is mostly found in the regions of Korea that have long-standing historical significance, including the Gyeonggi Province and around the capital, Seoul. Historical records contain references to the name in Korean society as far back as the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC to 668 AD), albeit in archaic forms and different hanja representations. Certain older manuscripts and texts, such as the "Samguk Sagi" and "Samguk Yusa," make indirect references to names and characters bearing resemblance to Yeong.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Yeong was during the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392), where members of the royal court and government officials bore the surname. For example, Yeong Bu-jin was a prominent advisor to King Taejo, the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty. His contributions to the consolidation of Goryeo rule and his administrative reforms were well-documented in historical annals.

Another notable historical figure was Yeong Ho-sang, a celebrated general during the Goryeo Dynasty, who lived between 1220 and 1286. He was renowned for his military strategies during conflicts with the Mongol invasions, playing a crucial role in safeguarding Korean territories. His legacy is honored in several historical texts and local folklore.

In the later Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), Yeong Jae-min, born in 1653 and died in 1725, was a renowned Confucian scholar and poet. His contributions to Korean literature, especially through poetry that extolled Confucian virtues and philosophies, have been preserved in various historical compendiums.

Yeong Se-jin, born in 1812 and deceased in 1878, was a distinguished physician during the late Joseon period. He is credited with significant advancements in traditional Korean medicine and is remembered for his medical texts, which innovatively combined traditional practices with new medicinal plants.

More recently, in the early 20th century, Yeong Jin-woo, born in 1901 and passing in 1958, was a significant figure in the movement for Korean independence from Japanese occupation. His activism and political involvement played an essential role in rallying support for Korea’s liberation, and his legacy is celebrated in modern historical accounts of the independence movement.

Through these prominent individuals and the historical significance of the name, Yeong has maintained a presence in Korean cultural and historical narratives. The surname embodies a sense of enduring legacy, reflecting its meaning of perpetuity and eternal lineage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yeong

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

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

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

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