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

Yerg, 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 Yerg surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yerg in America

Yerg is the 129825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yerg surname appeared 131 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 Yerg.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yerg 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 Yerg

The surname Yerg has its origin in the German-speaking regions of Europe, most notably in Germany around the medieval period. It is thought to derive from an old Germanic root, possibly linked to the word "Jurg," which itself is a variation of "Georg," meaning "farmer" or "earthworker." This etymological connection suggests that the name was likely occupational, referring to someone who worked the land.

Yerg may have originated around the areas of modern-day Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, where German surname formation was heavily influenced by profession and geographical characteristics. Variations in spelling, such as "Jerg" or "Yerch," can be seen in historical documents, testament to the fluid nature of medieval orthography.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname appears in a 13th-century register in Munich, where a Hans Jerg was listed as a landowner. This indicates that the Yerg family may have been among the established peasantry or lower gentry during this period.

In the 15th century, a Martin Yerg is documented in church records from Augsburg, where he was noted as contributing funds for the construction of a local cathedral. This suggests a degree of wealth and social standing within the community.

A particularly notable figure with this surname is Conrad Yerg, born in 1620 and deceased in 1678, a scholar who published several dissertations on early Germanic law. Conrad's works were influential in preserving and interpreting medieval legal manuscripts, and his name appears in university records from Heidelberg.

By the 18th century, the Yerg family had spread to other parts of Germany and beyond, with Johann Michael Yerg, born in 1712, making a significant impact in Hamburg as a merchant. His business dealings with the Hanseatic League were well-documented and show the family's progression from agrarian origins to urban commerce.

Lastly, Sophie Yerg, who lived from 1790 to 1865, gained recognition as a midwife and herbalist in the Black Forest region. Her contributions to local medicine were notable, and her methods were passed down through generations, with her name appearing in local medical guides of the time.

The surname Yerg, rooted in agrarian life and evolving through centuries, reflects a rich tapestry of social mobility and regional influence, with each recorded bearer contributing to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yerg

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

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

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

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