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

Yew, 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 Yew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yew in America

Yew is the 62714th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yew surname appeared 319 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 Yew.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yew 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 Yew

The surname Yew has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is primarily associated with southern counties, such as Devon and Somerset. The name is derived from the Old English word "iw," meaning the yew tree, a tree of significant symbolic and practical importance in ancient Britain. The yew tree was often found in churchyards, as it was believed to ward off evil spirits and was a symbol of immortality.

Historical references to the surname Yew are scarce but notable. It appears sporadically in medieval documents, with variations in spelling such as Yewe, Yowe, and Ewe. One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset, dated 1327, where a Robert le Yewe is listed. This suggests that the surname was used to denote someone who lived near a notable yew tree or a grove of yew trees.

In terms of documented mentions, the Poll Tax records from Yorkshire in 1379 include a Peter de Yew, indicating that the surname was perhaps more widespread than initially thought. The presence of "de Yew" suggests a locational aspect, hinting that this individual's family originated from a place renowned for its yew trees.

One famous historical figure bearing this surname is Samuel Yew, a 17th-century herbalist born in 1625 in Devon, who was known for his extensive knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants, including the yew tree itself. Another notable person was Margaret Yew, born in 1750, a midwife in Somerset who played a significant role in the local community.

In the 19th century, a prominent individual was John Yew, an inventor born in 1832 in Gloucester, who developed several agricultural tools that significantly impacted farming practices of the time. His innovations earned him recognition and a degree of fame within agricultural circles.

In the arts, Emily Yew, born in 1895 in London, became a well-respected painter, known for her landscape works that often featured yew trees, symbolizing her connection to the natural heritage of her surname.

Overall, the surname Yew is steeped in ancient history, rooted in the natural landscape of England, and has been carried by individuals who have contributed to various fields across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yew

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

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

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

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