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

Yerly, 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 Yerly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yerly in America

Yerly is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yerly surname appeared 109 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 Yerly.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yerly 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 Yerly

The surname Yerly finds its origins in the Western European region, particularly Switzerland. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period, possibly around the 14th century. The areas where this surname was first recorded are in the Swiss cantons, primarily in regions such as Bern and Fribourg. The name Yerly is derived from Old High German and Swiss German elements. The term is closely related to "Jarl," which is an old Scandinavian title for a nobleman, signifying a link to titles and social status.

Historical records indicating the presence of the surname Yerly include church registers, land deeds, and legal documents from the late Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is from a 1378 Fribourg city registry listing a Hans Yerly as a landowner. Additionally, various manuscripts from the 15th century have mentioned the name in the context of local governance and community roles.

One notable individual with this surname is Adrian Yerly, born in 1456, who was known for his role as a council member in Fribourg. He is significant for his involvement in the city's early governance and communal organization. Another key figure is Johann Yerly (1523-1598), remembered for his contributions to Swiss reformation movements.

A third important person bearing the surname Yerly is Katharina Yerly, born in 1610, who became known for her extensive written correspondence, which provides a detailed glimpse into the social life in 17th century Switzerland. Later, in the 18th century, we find Peter Yerly (1742-1810), a renowned farmer and local magistrate who played a crucial role during the agricultural reformation in Bern.

In the 19th century, one of the prominent members of the Yerly family was Marie Yerly (1825-1894), who was recognized for her work as an educator in the rural parts of Fribourg, advocating for children's education during a time of significant social change. The family name continued to be associated with public service, education, and local administration throughout this period.

The spelling variations of Yerly include Gerly, Jerly, and Yärli, reflecting regional dialectical differences in spelling and pronunciation within Switzerland. These variations appear in old place names and can be found in historical documents such as marriage certificates, birth registries, and estate records, signifying the family's widespread historical presence across Swiss cantons.

Throughout its history, the surname Yerly has maintained a connection to Swiss local governance, public service, and societal contributions. The legacy of this surname is marked by its bearers' roles in various social, educational, and administrative reforms, making it a notable name in the historical records of Switzerland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yerly

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

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

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

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