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

Yim, 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 Yim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yim in America

Yim is the 5650th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yim surname appeared 6,144 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Yim.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yim 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 Yim

The surname Yim originated in China, where it has been traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is believed to have derived from the Chinese word "yin," which means "forest" or "shade." The name was likely given to someone who lived near a wooded area or worked with forestry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yim can be found in the "Song Hui Yao Ji Guan," a compilation of government records from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). This document mentions a person named Yim Shao-xing, who served as a military commander during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong (997-1022 AD).

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), there was a notable scholar and official named Yim Yuanzhang (1328-1398). He was born in Fengyang County, Anhui Province, and served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court. Yim Yuanzhang was known for his contributions to the development of Neo-Confucianism.

In the 18th century, there was a famous painter and calligrapher named Yim Zhengming (1701-1767). He was born in Zhejiang Province and was renowned for his landscape paintings and his mastery of the "cursive script" calligraphic style.

Another notable figure with the surname Yim was Yim Wending (1898-1976), a prominent Chinese diplomat and politician. He served as the Foreign Minister of the Republic of China from 1949 to 1954 and played a significant role in the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and other countries after World War II.

In the world of literature, one prominent figure with the surname Yim was Yim Sang (1955-present), a renowned Chinese writer and poet. Born in Hubei Province, Yim Sang is known for his novels and short stories that explore themes of modern Chinese society and cultural identity.

While the surname Yim has its roots in ancient China, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Chinese diaspora populations. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the forests and wooded areas of China, where it was likely first bestowed upon an individual or family many centuries ago.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yim

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

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

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

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