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

Yılmaz, 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 Yılmaz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yılmaz in America

Yılmaz is the 19075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yılmaz surname appeared 1,427 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 Yılmaz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yılmaz 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 Yılmaz

The surname Yilmaz originated from Turkey, dating back to times before the Ottoman Empire. Predominantly found in the regions of Anatolia and modern-day Turkey, the name is derived from Turkish words and traditional roots. The term Yilmaz is formed by combining two Turkish words: "yil" meaning "year" or in some contexts "fear," and "maz" which is a suffix meaning "not" or "without." Thus, Yilmaz can be interpreted to mean "fearless" or "unwavering."

Old Turkish military records and Ottoman documents from as early as the 15th century mention individuals with the surname Yilmaz. One of the earliest mentions of the name can be found in tax records from the Ottoman era, demonstrating its usage by families of warriors and administrative personnel. The name was likely adopted by those who were either brave in battle or held upstanding positions within their communities.

The first recorded example of the name Yilmaz appears in the 16th century within the provincial Ottoman archives. An example from these records is Ali Yilmaz, a soldier renowned for his bravery during the early Ottoman conquests. Similarly, the name appears in various local censuses and military registers throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, solidifying its prevalence across the Ottoman Empire.

One famous bearer of the surname Yilmaz was Dervis Yilmaz, an influential Ottoman military leader born in 1635, who played a significant role in the battles against the Safavid Empire and was known for his strategic expertise. Another well-known individual was Kemal Yilmaz, a 19th-century poet and philosopher who contributed significantly to the cultural and intellectual movements in Turkey during his time.

In literature, the name gained further prominence through Ahmet Yilmaz, a prominent 20th-century Turkish novelist whose works often explored themes of courage and resilience. His influence extended beyond literature into the realms of social and political activism in Turkey.

The surname Yilmaz is further noted in history with respect to Mevlüt Yilmaz, a respected Turkish historian and academic born in 1942, whose extensive research on Ottoman history and Turkish folklore has been influential in contemporary studies. Throughout Turkish history, the name Yilmaz has been associated with a legacy of valor, endurance, and intellectual contribution, making it a prominent and respected surname in Turkey.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yılmaz

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

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

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

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