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

Yoder, 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 Yoder surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yoder in America

Yoder is the 598th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoder surname appeared 56,410 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 19 people would have the surname Yoder.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yoder 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 Yoder

The surname Yoder is of German origin, deriving from the given name "Yoder" or "Joder," which is a variant of the Germanic name "Jodocus." This name is believed to have its roots in the Greek name "Iodocus," meaning "praiseworthy." The name Yoder emerged in the late medieval period, with the earliest recorded instances appearing in various German-speaking regions.

The name Yoder can be traced back to the 14th century, with one of the earliest recorded mentions found in the town records of Heidelberg, Germany, in 1369. These records document a "Joder von Worms," indicating a connection to the city of Worms. Throughout the following centuries, the name continued to appear in various German-speaking areas, including Bavaria, Württemberg, and the Palatinate region.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Joder Eberlin von Günzburg (1465-1533) rose to prominence as a German theologian and reformer. He was a vocal critic of the Catholic Church and played a significant role in the early stages of the Protestant Reformation. His writings and sermons influenced many and helped shape the religious landscape of the time.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, many German Anabaptists, including those with the surname Yoder, emigrated to Pennsylvania in search of religious freedom. One of the earliest recorded Yoder families to arrive in America was that of Jost Yoder, who settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1742. This Yoder family became prominent in the Amish and Mennonite communities of the region.

Another notable figure from this era was Jacob Yoder (1758-1847), a Mennonite minister and writer from Pennsylvania. He authored several religious works and was influential in the Mennonite community of his time. Additionally, Christian Yoder (1757-1831), a Mennonite farmer and minister, played a significant role in the early settlement of Wayne County, Ohio.

In the 19th century, John Yoder (1820-1898) was a prominent Amish leader and bishop in Holmes County, Ohio. He was instrumental in guiding the Amish community through a period of transition and helped establish several Amish settlements in the region.

As the Yoder name spread across various parts of the United States, it became associated with several prominent individuals, including John Howard Yoder (1927-1997), a influential Mennonite theologian and ethicist, and Jerene Yoder (1927-2016), a renowned American quilter and artist.

The surname Yoder has endured through centuries, maintaining its German roots while adapting to various cultural and linguistic influences across different regions. Despite its widespread dispersal, the name has remained closely tied to its Anabaptist and Mennonite heritage, with many notable figures contributing to the rich history and traditions of these communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoder

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

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

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

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