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

Yesh, 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 Yesh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yesh in America

Yesh is the 96799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yesh surname appeared 188 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 Yesh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yesh 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 Yesh

The surname Yesh is a name of relatively uncommon occurrence that traces its roots to Eastern Europe, particularly within regions that are now part of modern-day Ukraine and Poland. The origins of the surname can be linked to the late medieval and early modern periods, around the 15th to 17th centuries, when surnames began to be standardized in these regions. It is derived from the Slavic languages spoken in those areas, with "Yesh" likely stemming from the root word "yeshcho," which means "still" or "yet."

The earliest recorded mentions of the surname Yesh appear in regional manuscripts and church records from the late 16th century. For instance, a registry in the Polish town of Przemyśl from 1587 lists a Petar Yesh, a local craftsman, highlighting one of the earliest instances of this family name. The name reappears in various documents over the century, often spelled differently due to transliteration inconsistencies, such as Jesch or Yeshch.

In historical documents, the surname can also be linked to certain localities. For example, the village of Yeshkivtsi in Ukraine, known in the 15th century as Yeszyky, is one potential place where the surname might have originated or been particularly common. Documents from a parish in the Lviv region in the early 1600s also reference a family bearing the surname Yesz, hinting at the geographical spread of the name.

Several notable individuals carry the surname Yesh throughout history. Ivan Yesh (b.1624 - d.1688) was recorded as a notable figure in Kyiv, serving as an advisor to the ruling council and a respected local leader. Another prominent individual was Katarzyna Yesh (b.1692 - d.1761), who was recognized for her charitable work and contributions to the local convents in Kraków.

In the 18th century, a mathematician named Mikolaj Yesh (b.1735 - d.1802) emerged in Lublin. He was known for his academic contributions to the local university and for writing one of the few mathematics treatises of the time in the Polish language. Another significant individual was Anna Yesh, born in 1751 in Warsaw, who later became a famous sculptor noted for her religious icons and statues that adorned various churches across Poland.

Stepping into the 19th century, the name appears in emigration records wherein Yitzhak Yesh (b.1831 - d.1899) is noted as one of the early Jewish immigrants to the United States. He contributed to the founding of a synagogue in New York City and was a recognized figure among the Jewish diaspora community. The name Yesh has thus carved out a historical presence across centuries and regions, illustrating a rich cultural and geographical tapestry.

While contemporary census data isn't included, historical texts and records furnish ample evidence of the surname Yesh's prominence and distinct lineage through Eastern European history. Its roots in Slavic etymology and the documented lives of its bearers paint a vivid picture of the surname's enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yesh

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

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

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

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