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

Yoders, 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 Yoders surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yoders in America

Yoders is the 75564th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoders surname appeared 255 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 Yoders.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yoders 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 Yoders

The surname Yoders is predominantly of Swiss-German origin, dating back to the late Middle Ages. The name is traditionally linked to the Palatinate region of Germany and Switzerland, with a concentration in the cantons of Bern and Zurich. It is derived from the High German "Joder" or "Joderer," which are themselves derived from the Old German name "Theodorus" or "Theoderich," meaning "people’s ruler" or "gift of God."

Early historical references to the name Yoders can be found in Swiss records from the 15th and 16th centuries. These records primarily pertain to the Anabaptist movement, where individuals with the Yoders surname played significant roles. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Hans Joder, an influential Anabaptist leader born around 1500. His participation in religious reforms and subsequent persecution was well-documented in contemporary records.

The name Yoders also appears in the meticulous church records of the Swiss and German regions. Jakob Joder, born in 1597 in Trub, Switzerland, was a notable figure who was referenced in several historical documents involving land disputes and church activities. His family records are preserved in the parish archives, providing insights into the socio-economic conditions of that era.

Migration significantly influenced the spread and variation in spelling of the surname Yoders. When Yoders families emigrated to America in the 18th century, particularly to Pennsylvania, they preserved the name’s original spelling for the most part. However, alternative spellings such as Yoder, Joder, and Yotter began to appear due to transliteration issues among immigration officials. John Yoder, born in 1700, was a prominent early American settler whose descendants played important roles in the establishment of Amish and Mennonite communities.

Several prominent figures with the surname Yoders made notable contributions throughout history. For instance, Joseph Yoder (1872-1956), an influential American writer, documented his Mennonite upbringing in his work "Rosanna of the Amish." His writings offer valuable perspectives on the cultural and religious practices of Amish communities during his lifetime.

Another noteworthy individual was Melchior Yoder, a Swiss Anabaptist born in 1630, who was known for his steadfast adherence to his faith despite persecution. His legacy persisted through detailed genealogical records maintained by his descendants, highlighting the endurance of the Yoders family lineage over centuries.

The historical spread of the Yoders surname across different continents provides a fascinating glimpse into migration patterns and the evolution of family names. Each recorded instance, from Hans Joder's Anabaptist leadership to Joseph Yoder’s literary contributions, underscores the rich and multifaceted history of the Yoders name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoders

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

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

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

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