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

Yerby, 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 Yerby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yerby in America

Yerby is the 24855th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yerby surname appeared 1,001 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 Yerby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yerby 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 Yerby

The surname Yerby has its origins in England, with most historical references pointing towards its roots in the Anglo-Saxon period. The name is believed to have originated as a locational surname, derived from a place name. It is a habitational name, indicating that the original bearers of the surname hailed from a place called Yarborough in Lincolnshire or possibly from a similar-sounding village.

The name Yerby is thought to be derived from the Old English words "eorðe," meaning earth, and "burh," referring to a fortified place or a borough. When combined, these elements suggest a meaning along the lines of "fortified place on the earth" or "earth fort." Such descriptive place names were typical of the Anglo-Saxon time as they helped to identify specific land features or settlements.

One of the earliest references to a variant of the name comes from the Domesday Book of 1086, where various similar names were recorded as part of the Great Survey commissioned by William the Conqueror. For instance, the name "Eurebi" appears in historical documents, showing an early form that likely evolved into various spellings including Yerby over time.

A famous historical figure with this surname is Frank Yerby, an American writer best known for his historical novels. Born in 1916 and passing in 1991, Frank Yerby became the first African-American to become a best-selling author and was notable for works like "The Foxes of Harrow" published in 1946. His success broke ground for many other African-American writers.

Records from the 13th and 14th centuries show the name in various forms as surnames began to stabilize. In the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, the name is recorded as Ierbi, indicating that the spelling was still fluid at this time. This period marked a transitional phase in the standardization of surnames in England.

In the 15th century, records mention Richard Yerby of Lincolnshire, who was documented in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York in 1487. This historical reference also links the surname Yerby to the East Midlands, specifically reaffirming its geographical origins.

Another notable instance involves George Yerby, born in 1647, who was a prominent Welsh landowner. His prominence rose during the Restoration period, a time when many landowners were recorded in various legal documents, highlighting his status within Welsh society.

By the 18th century, the name Yerby had made its way to Colonial America, with Jacob Yerby being a documented resident of Virginia in 1742. His involvement in local governance and commerce is well-recorded, illustrating the movement and establishment of the surname in the New World.

Throughout history, Yerby remains a surname rooted deeply in its Anglo-Saxon origins, showing a fascinating evolution through medieval Britain to modern American presence. Each historical reference solidifies its historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yerby

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

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

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

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