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

Yepa, 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 Yepa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yepa in America

Yepa is the 113155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yepa surname appeared 155 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 Yepa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yepa 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 Yepa

The surname Yepa is relatively rare and has its roots in Native American culture, specifically from the Pueblo people of the Southwestern United States. The name Yepa is typically associated with the Keresan-speaking Puebloans of New Mexico. The Pueblo people have a long history, with archaeological evidence showing that they have lived in the region for over a thousand years, although the surname itself is not recorded in ancient times, the cultural roots of the name are deeply entrenched in the history and traditions of the Pueblo communities.

The meaning of the surname Yepa is tied closely to its etymological roots in the Keresan languages. In Keresan, Yepa translates to "snow woman," which would have been a significant and evocative name in communities that are highly attuned to nature and the environment. Such names often reflect characteristics, significant events, or aspects of the natural world, in this case, snow, which can be of particular importance in high-altitude regions like the pueblos.

Historically, records and manuscripts documenting Native American surnames from earlier centuries are scarce, due to the oral traditions of these cultures and the impact of European colonization, which often disrupted traditional name-keeping practices. As such, there are limited early written references to the surname Yepa. However, it is known through oral histories and cultural records that names like Yepa were common within the Pueblo communities.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Yepa surname in written records was Maria Yepa, born around 1840 in the Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico. Maria Yepa is noted in 19th-century baptismal and marriage records in the local church, which provide a glimpse into the colonial-era intersections of Native American and European naming conventions.

Another notable individual is Santiago Yepa, a Pueblo leader born in 1865 in the Jemez Pueblo. Santiago played a significant role in advocating for the rights and lands of the Pueblo people during the turn of the century, amidst increasing pressures from expanding American settlements.

In the 20th century, records indicate Esther Yepa, an influential educator from the Cochiti Pueblo, born in 1903 and remembered for her work in preserving the Keresan language and cultural heritage within local schools. Esther's dedication to education helped ensure that younger generations retained a strong sense of their indigenous identity.

Patricia Yepa, born in 1922, was another prominent figure, this time in the field of Native American rights. Patricia was instrumental in several legal battles during the mid-20th century that sought to protect Pueblo lands from federal encroachment, thereby securing her legacy as a determined advocate for her community's rights.

Finally, there was John Yepa, a respected potter from the Zia Pueblo, born in 1935. John Yepa's pottery gained acclaim both locally and internationally, helping to elevate the traditional art forms of his people to a wider audience. His works often incorporated traditional designs and techniques passed down through generations, symbolizing the enduring nature of Pueblo craftsmanship.

Together, these individuals highlight the deep cultural and historical connections embodied in the surname Yepa, weaving a narrative that spans centuries and showcases the resilience and rich heritage of the Pueblo peoples.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yepa

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

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

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

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