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

Yo, 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 Yo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yo in America

Yo is the 32524th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yo surname appeared 707 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 Yo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yo 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 Yo

The surname Yo has its origins in East Asia, specifically in Korea and Japan. The Korean variant of the surname Yo, also spelled as Yeo in some instances, dates back to the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392). During this period, the name was associated with high-ranking officials and scholars. In Korea, it is derived from the Chinese character 呂 (Yeo), which has historical significance in various Chinese dynasties, symbolizing structures and architectural frameworks in ancient texts.

In Japan, the surname Yo can be linked to several old clans, including the prominent Yo clan in the region of Musashi Province, which is present-day Tokyo. The term Yo might derive from the Japanese character 楊, meaning willow tree. The Yo family in Japan has its historical roots traced back to the Heian period (794–1185), where they were part of the samurai class.

The earliest references to the surname Yo in Korea can be found in historical manuscripts of the Goryeo Dynasty, including the Goryeosa (History of Goryeo), which mentions a government official by the name of Yeo Su-il in the 13th century. Another early record is the Samguk Sagi (Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms), documenting a general named Yeo Ga who served during the Three Kingdoms period.

In Japan, medieval records such as the Azuma Kagami, a historical record of the Kamakura shogunate, mentions a samurai named Yo Yoshinari around the early 13th century. Additionally, the Muromachi period's (1336–1573) genealogical records list Yo Shigenobu, a daimyo who played a notable role in regional governance and military campaigns.

Throughout history, several notable individuals carried the surname Yo. Yeo Woon-yang (1567-1629), a Korean scholar-official of the Joseon Dynasty known for his contributions to Confucian scholarship and governance, left a significant legacy. Yo Yoshinari (1190-1250), a samurai warrior, defended his clan's honor during the Jokyu War, making him a celebrated figure in Japanese samurai history.

The surname Yo also has connections to influential cultural figures. Yo Un-hyung (1886-1947), a Korean politician and independence activist, played a crucial role in the independence movement against Japanese occupation. Yoichi Yuasa (1909-1977), a renowned Japanese artist, made significant contributions to modern Japanese art with his avant-garde paintings and installations.

As the Yo surname traversed through generations, its cultural and historical impact remained profound in both Korea and Japan. The rich legacy of individuals bearing the surname has consequently continued to influence contemporary society, preserving the surname’s historical value and significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yo

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

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

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

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