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

Ymker, 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 Ymker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ymker in America

Ymker is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ymker surname appeared 127 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 Ymker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ymker 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 Ymker

The surname Ymker has its origins in the Netherlands and can be traced back to the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century. The name is most commonly associated with the northern provinces of the Netherlands, particularly Friesland and Groningen. These regions were part of the Frisian Kingdom during the early Middle Ages and have a history rich with distinct cultural and linguistic influences.

The surname Ymker is believed to derive from the Middle Dutch word "imker," which means beekeeper. The word itself has roots in Old Dutch, with "eme" or "im" referring to bees and "ker" or "eker" being a suffix indicating a person involved actively in the profession or activity. Beekeeping was a significant occupation during medieval times, as honey was one of the primary sweeteners available, and beeswax was used extensively for candles.

Historical references to the surname can be found in various records from the Dutch provinces. An entry from a 15th-century tax register in Groningen lists a "Jan Ymker," highlighting the tax contributions made by local beekeepers. In Friesland, church manuscripts from the 16th century record the name "Pieter Ymker," a prominent beekeeper who supplied honey to a local abbey.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was Hans Ymker, born in 1472 in Groningen. Hans was noted in town council records as a reputable beekeeper and landowner. He passed away in 1530. Another historical figure was Clara Ymker, born in 1645 in Friesland, who gained some renown for her contributions to agricultural practices, including innovative beekeeping methods. She died in 1710.

The name also appears in maritime records, with a certain Matthijs Ymker, born in 1678, who served as a ship's purser on several Dutch East India Company voyages. Matthijs was noted for keeping meticulous records and passed away in 1742. Over time, the surname spread to other parts of the Netherlands and beyond, sometimes altering in spelling to reflect local linguistic variations, such as "Imke" or "Ymcken."

In the 18th century, another notable bearer of the name was Lambertus Ymker, born in 1721 in Utrecht. Lambertus was an influential merchant and part of the burgeoning Dutch trade networks. He passed away in 1786, leaving behind extensive business records that provide insight into the economic activities of the time.

Throughout its history, the surname Ymker has remained relatively uncommon, often indicating familial lineage tied to the ancient and valuable profession of beekeeping. Although the name may not appear frequently in modern times, its rich historical background offers a glimpse into the agricultural and economic fabric of the medieval and early modern Netherlands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ymker

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

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

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

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