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

Yess, 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 Yess surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yess in America

Yess is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yess surname appeared 100 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 Yess.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yess 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 Yess

The surname Yess is an intriguing one with a history that seems to be shrouded in a certain degree of mystery due to its rarity and potential for various linguistic origins. The most likely country of origin for the surname Yess is Germany. In Germany, surnames often began to form between the 11th and the 15th centuries. The name Yess may have originated from a surname structure common to that region and time, possibly as a short form or variant of a longer surname.

The name Yess could be linked to the German word "Jäsch," which was a diminutive form of the name "Jakob" or "Jacob," which means "he who supplants." Alternatively, Yess might be derived from a geographical location or an occupation, though specific records indicating such an origin are sparse.

One of the earlier recorded examples of the surname can be found in medieval German manuscripts. Johann Yess, born around 1450, was noted in public records in the Bavarian region. The context of his mention suggests he was a tradesman, possibly a tailor or merchant.

By the 17th century, the name began appearing in more formal documents, often associated with families who had immigrated to other parts of Europe or the New World. Records from the mid-1600s indicate a Hans Yess from Württemberg who emigrated to the American colonies. He settled in Pennsylvania, where his descendants continued to carry the name.

Another notable figure included Maria Yess, who was born in 1820 in Frankfurt and became well-known for her contributions to early childhood education reform in Germany. Her work was recognized by academic circles, and several educational treatises from the period mentioned her by name.

From the mid-19th century, yet another reference to the surname appears in Denmark. Anders Yess, born in 1835, is a renowned Danish botanist whose research significantly contributed to the documentation of Scandinavian plant life. His monographs from the late 1800s remain important in the field of botany.

The name also saw some prominence in the early 20th century. Hermann Yess, born in 1882, was a German industrialist known for his innovations in the steel manufacturing industry. His contributions to the industrial sector were noted in several trade journals of the era.

Finally, another individual of note is Clara Yess, an American suffragist born in 1895. She was a prominent figure in the women's rights movement and played a significant role in advocating for the 19th Amendment in the United States, securing women's right to vote in 1920. Clara Yess’s speeches and writings were distributed widely, making an impact that lasted well beyond her death in 1968.

Throughout its history, the surname Yess has been carried by people who have made noteworthy contributions to society, and its etymological roots suggest a blend of personal names and possibly occupational or geographical elements, reflective of the regions and eras in which it appeared.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yess

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

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

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

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