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

Yergey, 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 Yergey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yergey in America

Yergey is the 111988th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yergey surname appeared 157 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 Yergey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yergey 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 Yergey

The surname Yergey has its origins in Germany, with historical roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Derived from the German personal name Georg or Jürgen, itself originating from the Greek name Georgios meaning 'farmer' or 'earth-worker,' the name evolved over the centuries in various regions. The spelling and pronunciation of Yergey likely underwent modifications influenced by local dialects and orthographic practices, common in areas such as Bavaria and Saxony.

Early records of the name Yergey are sparse, as regional variations and the lack of standardized spelling in medieval records made it difficult to track the name's evolution. Manuscripts from the 14th and 15th centuries mentioned individuals with similar sounding names, which may indicate the early presence of the surname. For instance, the 1427 Bavarian records list a Jurgen Yerge who was a local farmer and landholder.

The 1500s saw the name becoming more recognizable in documents, as evidenced by the 1545 registry from Saxony, which lists a Hans Yergey, a well-known blacksmith in the village. By the 17th century, there are clearer references to the Yergey family, particularly in church registries and tax records. Johann Yergey, born in 1621 and deceased in 1695, was a notable figure, serving as a town elder in Nuremberg and his contributions to the local community were well documented.

In the early 18th century, the Yergey surname appeared with more frequency in emigration records. Many families bearing the name emigrated to North America during this period. One notable individual, Ludvig Yergey, born in 1710, settled in Pennsylvania in 1735. His descendants became active participants in the American Revolutionary War, with records indicating that his grandson, Frederick Yergey, born in 1760 and who passed away in 1826, served as a militia leader.

The 19th century saw the expansion of the Yergey name across the United States, with various branches of the family establishing themselves in diverse trades. Noteworthy in this period was Elisabeth Yergey, a prominent schoolteacher born in 1845 who advocated for women’s education and contributed significantly to the local community in Ohio until her death in 1912.

Throughout history, the surname Yergey has illustrated a journey from its Germanic agricultural roots to its establishment in the United States. Each documented individual with the Yergey surname played a role in crafting the family’s legacy, highlighting the historical and cultural contributions of those who bore the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yergey

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

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

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

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