Yip
A Chinese occupational surname referring to a trader or merchant, or perhaps someone prone to making sudden movements.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,198 Americans carry the last name Yip. That puts it at #5,602 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 47,618 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Yip surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
7.2K
1 in 47,618
Census rank
#5,602
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,208 bearers of the surname Yip in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5602nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Yip, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.5%) and White (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Yip
The surname YIP originated in China, with records dating back to the early 15th century. It is a phonetic rendering of the Chinese surname Ye, which is derived from the word "ye" meaning "leaf" or "foliage." The earliest recorded mention of the Ye surname can be found in the genealogical records of the Ming Dynasty.
The Ye surname was particularly prominent in the southern regions of China, particularly in the provinces of Guangdong and Fujian. As trade and migration patterns evolved, the Ye surname spread to other parts of China and eventually to other parts of the world, with the spelling sometimes being adapted to YIP in English-speaking regions.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the YIP surname was Yip Qing (1528-1599), a renowned scholar and philosopher during the Ming Dynasty. He was known for his contributions to Neo-Confucian thought and his influential writings on ethics and governance.
Another notable figure was Yip Fang (1719-1786), a celebrated painter and calligrapher during the Qing Dynasty. His works were highly sought after and are now preserved in various museums and collections around the world.
In more recent history, Yip Wing-sie (1904-1987) was a prominent Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Yip Kwong-chung Charitable Trust, which has supported numerous educational and charitable initiatives in Hong Kong and beyond.
Yip Kai-foon (1923-2005) was a respected Hong Kong architect who played a significant role in shaping the city's urban landscape. Some of his notable works include the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
Yip Man (1893-1972) was a revered grandmaster of the Wing Chun martial arts style. He is credited with popularizing Wing Chun and training many notable practitioners, including Bruce Lee, who helped introduce Wing Chun to the western world.
Throughout history, the YIP surname has been associated with various place names and locations, particularly in southern China. For example, the village of Yip Tso in Guangdong province was once home to a substantial population of individuals with the YIP surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Yip
Among Census respondents with the surname Yip, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.5%) and White (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Yip bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Yip surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander93.3%
- Two or more races2.5%
- White2.3%
- Hispanic or Latino1.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Yip surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,602 | #5,602 | 0.0% |
| Count | 6,208 | 6,208 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.10 | 2.10 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Yip bearers went from 6,208 to 6,208 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #5,602 to #5,602.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Yip
FAQ
Yip surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Yip?
The surname Yip holds position #5,602 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 7,198 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.10 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Yip surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Yip, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.5%) and White (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.