Yescas last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Yescas

A habitational Spanish surname derived from a place name.

Yescas, 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 Yescas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yescas in America

Yescas is the 23817th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yescas surname appeared 1,061 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 Yescas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yescas 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 23817 31592 -28.06%
Count 1,061 692 42.10%
Proportion per 100k 0.36 0.26 32.26%

The history of the last name Yescas

The surname Yescas has its origins deeply rooted in the Spanish-speaking world, most notably in Spain and its former colonies, including Mexico and other parts of Latin America. The name is believed to date back to at least the Medieval period, around the 12th to 15th centuries. Originating from the Iberian Peninsula, the surname is thought to be derived from the Spanish word “yesca,” meaning a type of tinder or highly flammable material used to start fires. This etymology suggests that the surname might have been occupational in nature, possibly referring to someone who gathered or sold tinder.

One of the earliest references to the surname can be traced to various Spanish records and manuscripts. While comprehensive written records were not maintained in all regions, localized documentation from places like Castile and Andalusia occasionally mentions individuals with the surname Yescas during the late Medieval period. For instance, in the Archivo General de Simancas, a Yescas family is noted among the residents of 14th-century Castile.

The name also migrated to the New World with Spanish colonization. In the 16th century, records from Mexico and other Spanish territories in the Americas began to include the surname. One notable figure with the surname is José de Yescas, a colonial-era official in Mexico, who was active in the early 17th century. Serving as an administrator, his work was influential in the governance and development of municipal regions during Spanish rule.

In terms of spelling variations, earlier texts reveal forms such as Yesques and Yescas. These were not uncommon as standardized spelling was a later development. Place names such as Los Yescas in Spain also point to the etymological roots and possibly the geographic origins of families carrying the surname.

Five historical figures with the surname include Francisco de Yescas, a soldier in the Spanish army during the Reconquista, born around 1450. Maria de Yescas, a noted figure in 16th-century Seville, was famed for her charitable works and contributions to local convents. During the early 18th century, a merchant named Antonio Yescas gained mention in trade records for the Spanish Main, indicating the continued presence of the family in both Europe and the New World. Another historical figure is Juan de Yescas, documented in colonial Peru in the late 17th century, whose descendants played significant roles in the region's economics. Lastly, Inés de Yescas, born in 1605, was a well-known midwife in the Basque region, indicating the broad geographic spread of the surname.

By tracing the surname Yescas through Spanish historical records, colonial archives, and regional references, one can piece together the rich history and various roles individuals with this surname have played over the centuries. From soldiers and officials to merchants and midwives, the Yescas name carries a legacy intertwined with the broader history of Spain and its territories.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yescas

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

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 Yescas was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 3.77% 40
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 1.04% 11
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 94.63% 1,004

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 Yescas has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 3.77% 3.90% -3.39%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 1.04% 0.72% 36.36%
Two or More Races (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Hispanic 94.63% 95.23% -0.63%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Yescas last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/yescas-surname-popularity/.

"Yescas last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/yescas-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Yescas last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/yescas-surname-popularity/.

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