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

Yoda, 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 Yoda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yoda in America

Yoda is the 86314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoda surname appeared 216 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 Yoda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yoda 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 Yoda

The surname Yoda is of Japanese origin and is thought to have emerged during the Heian period (794-1185). The name is primarily associated with the Kansai region of Japan, which includes ancient capitals like Kyoto and Nara. "Yoda" is derived from the kanji characters "用" (yo), meaning "use" or "employ," and "田" (da), meaning "field" or "rice paddy." Combined, these characters suggest a meaning associated with someone who works or manages fields.

Historical references to the surname Yoda can be traced back to old Japanese records and registries, particularly within the context of feudal land management. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), individuals with the surname Yoda were recorded as landowners and managers, indicative of their agricultural heritage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is from the Kamakura period, where a man named Yoda Saburo was noted for his service to a local lord. Another historical figure with the surname Yoda is Yoda Kunitaka, a samurai from the Sengoku period (1467-1600) who played a significant role in regional conflicts in the Kansai region. He was born in 1530 and died in 1590, gaining a reputation for his strategic acumen.

Yoda Mitsunari, born in 1560 and died in 1615, was a notable retainer of the Toyotomi clan during the late Azuchi-Momoyama period. His loyalty and contributions to the clan's military efforts were well-documented in period literature. Another significant individual is Yoda Hidemichi, a scholar and poet from the Edo period (1603-1868). Born in 1624 and died in 1689, Hidemichi was known for his writings on agricultural practices and rural life.

Yoda Yasuki, born in 1814 and died in 1865, was a prominent village headman in the late Edo period, overseeing the redistribution of land and resources during a time of significant economic and social change. Yoda Tetsuo, born in 1872 and died in 1945, was a key figure during the Meiji Restoration, participating in the modernization of Japan's agricultural policies. His work was instrumental in transforming traditional farming techniques to accommodate the rapidly industrializing nation.

These historical figures illustrate the diverse roles that individuals with the surname Yoda have played throughout Japanese history. From samurai and scholars to farmers and administrators, the Yoda surname is deeply entrenched in the agricultural and feudal systems that shaped Japan over centuries. The legacy of the Yoda surname is a testament to the enduring cultural and historical significance of the name within Japanese society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoda

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

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

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

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