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

Yiengst, 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 Yiengst surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yiengst in America

Yiengst is the 102197th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yiengst surname appeared 176 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 Yiengst.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yiengst 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 Yiengst

The surname Yiengst is relatively rare and carries a distinct history tied to its country of origin, Germany. The origins of the Yiengst surname can be traced back to the Rhineland, particularly within the region now known as the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The earliest records suggest that the name began to emerge in documented use during the late Medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century.

The etymology of Yiengst is believed to be derived from older Germanic words, possibly related to "jung" or "jüngst," which mean "young" or "youngest." This indicates that the surname could originally have been a descriptor for the youngest member of a family. Variations in spelling were common in early records, which could include forms like Jüngst, Yingst, or even Jiengst before standardization of surnames became more prevalent in the 18th and 19th centuries.

There are few historical references to Yiengst in older records, partly due to the voluntary reporting and the sometimes fragmented nature of medieval documentation. One notable reference can be traced back to a 16th-century tax record in the small town of Worms, within the Rhineland-Palatinate, where a Johannes Yiengst is mentioned. Beyond this, the name crops up sporadically in land grants and ecclesiastical records.

The earliest comprehensive record involving a bearer of this surname dates to 1502, when a Heinrich Yiengst appeared in church registers detailing local tithes in the town of Mainz. This particular area of Germany was heavily involved in the religious and secular affairs of the Holy Roman Empire, which means records from this period are relatively well-preserved.

By the 17th and 18th centuries, another notable figure bearing the surname appeared. Johann Frederick Yiengst, born in 1674 and died in 1738, was a landowner in the Palatinate region whose name appears in several land transactions and municipal records. He is one of the few of his time whose lineage can be somewhat traced through preserved documents.

In the early 19th century, amidst upheavals in Europe, members of the Yiengst family began migrating to the United States, seeking better opportunities. Among the first was Karl Yiengst, born in 1802 in Heidelberg, who embarked on a journey to Pennsylvania in 1825. He established a homestead and was involved in farming, which is documented in letters that have been preserved in various historical societies.

By the mid-19th century, another significant figure was Wilhelm Yiengst, born in 1835 and known for his contribution to the community as a blacksmith in the town of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His efforts in establishing a local guild in 1870 are well-documented, highlighting the role of immigrants in shaping local industries.

Another member of note is Maria Yiengst, born in 1856, known for her philanthropic efforts in Philadelphia during the late 19th century. She established a local orphanage for children affected by the economic turmoils of the era, showcasing the Yiengst family's growing integration and influence in their new homeland.

These historical instances provide a fascinating glimpse into the origins and evolution of the Yiengst surname over centuries, reflecting broader migratory and social patterns in European and American history. They underline the persistence of family legacies and the adaptation of surnames across different cultural landscapes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yiengst

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

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

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

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