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

Yerks, 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 Yerks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yerks in America

Yerks is the 70833rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yerks surname appeared 276 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 Yerks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yerks 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 Yerks

The surname Yerks has origins that are often traced back to the regions of Germany and the Netherlands. The name is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, around the 12th to 13th centuries. It is most likely an Anglicized form of the surname Jerkes or Jürges, which in itself could have been derived from the Germanic name Georgius, meaning "farmer" or "earth-worker." Over time, through migration and phonetic changes, the surname evolved into its present form.

Early records show variations in the spelling of the surname, including Jercks, Yercks, and Jorks, which suggests the name may have also been influenced by Dutch or Flemish linguistic patterns. Historical documents from the Holy Roman Empire period contain references to families bearing similar names; one such source is the registers of Württemberg and the Rhineland-Palatinate during the 14th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Yerks in English-speaking countries can be found in the church records of London in the early 1600s, reflecting the increased movement of people between the Continent and the British Isles. A notable example is William Yerks, born in 1621, who appears in these records. This individual might have been among those seeking economic opportunities or escaping religious persecution.

As migration trends continued, the surname Yerks spread to North America. During the 18th century, Luke Yerks, born in 1743, became one of the early settlers in the New York region. He was a landowner and farmer, contributing to the development of the Hudson Valley. Documents from the Revolutionary War period list Luke Yerks as a participant in local militia activities.

In the 19th century, another significant figure bearing the name was Nathaniel Yerks (1810-1889), who became a prominent businessman and community leader in New York State. His involvement in local politics and philanthropy helped shape the early social infrastructure of growing towns in the area.

During the same century, Amelia Yerks (1835-1902) gained recognition for her work in the women's suffrage movement. Based in New York, she was an active participant in various campaigns advocating for women's rights, leaving a lasting legacy in the region's history.

In the later part of the 19th century, John Yerks (1861-1930), who served as a local judge in Pennsylvania, was known for his fair judgments and community service, further establishing the name in American historical records.

These examples illustrate the surname Yerks' journey from its medieval European roots to its establishment in North America, highlighting the diverse contributions of individuals with this name throughout history. The surname continues to hold historical significance, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural integrations over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yerks

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

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

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

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