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

Yick, 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 Yick surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yick in America

Yick is the 69170th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yick surname appeared 284 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 Yick.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yick 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 Yick

The surname Yick originates from China, where surnames often bear strong connections to the history, culture, and even geography of the region. Chinese surnames are among the oldest in the world, with many dating back several millennia. Yick is derived from the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese surname Ye, which is written in Chinese characters as "叶" or "葉" in traditional script. The surname originated from the ancient State of Ye during the Spring and Autumn period (approximately 771 to 476 BC).

Ye was a prominent state during the Zhou dynasty, located in what is now modern-day Henan Province. When the state fell, many of its inhabitants adopted Ye as their surname to signify their place of origin. The pronunciation and spelling evolved over centuries due to varying regional dialects and the influence of transliterations when people emigrated, especially to Western countries. The Cantonese pronunciation "Yick" is widely recognized among Chinese emigrants from Guangdong province and Hong Kong.

Historical references to this surname are found in ancient Chinese records and annals. One prominent figure with this surname is Ye Xian, a legendary king from the Spring and Autumn period, noted for his wisdom and leadership. Another historical figure is Ye Ting, a notable general in the Chinese Communist military during the early 20th century, born in 1896 and died in 1946. He played a significant role in the early revolutionary activities in China.

In more recent history, Yick Wo, an important name in American legal history, appears in records. Yick Wo was the central figure in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Yick Wo v. Hopkins in 1886, which addressed racial discrimination in the enforcement of laws. Though not much is known about his personal life, this case is a cornerstone in civil rights jurisprudence.

In 20th-century British Hong Kong, Yick Nam was a businessman born in the 1920s who contributed to the development of the region’s banking and finance sector. His contributions helped to modernize the local economy and played a part in establishing Hong Kong as a major international financial hub.

Ye Chun, born in 1913 and passing away in 2007, was a well-known Chinese painter whose works were heavily influenced by traditional Chinese styles, subtly merged with Western artistic techniques. His artworks gained international recognition and greatly contributed to the cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world.

Lastly, Yick Man, an influential martial artist born in 1935, played a significant role in popularizing Wing Chun Kung Fu internationally. His teachings and philosophy gained a significant following, and he is remembered as one of the key figures in the martial arts community.

The surname Yick carries with it a rich historical tapestry woven from its origins in ancient China through the various noteworthy individuals who have borne the name, contributing to fields as varied as military history, legal history, art, and martial arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yick

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

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

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

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