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

Yoffee, 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 Yoffee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yoffee in America

Yoffee is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoffee surname appeared 105 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 Yoffee.

The history of the last name Yoffee

The surname Yoffee appears to have roots in Jewish communities, originating from Eastern Europe. It is most often associated with the Ashkenazi Jewish population. The name is derived from the Hebrew word "yafe" (יָפֶה), which means "beautiful" or "handsome". The transformation of the Hebrew word into a surname follows common practices, whereby individuals or families adopted appellations reflecting physical attributes or desirable qualities.

Initial records of the surname Yoffee are challenging to pinpoint due to the transliteration variations of Hebrew into Latin alphabets across different regions and periods. The surname may have initially appeared in Jewish communities of Poland, Lithuania, or Russia during the 18th or 19th centuries, where Jewish families were required or chose to take on fixed surnames for legal and administrative purposes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in historical documents can be found in the various Jewish communities of the Pale of Settlement, a region including parts of modern-day Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Belarus. The surname might have been listed in community records, or on legal documents as Jewish individuals became integrated into broader societal frameworks.

As for historical references, the earliest notable person with this surname was Solomon Yoffee, a prominent rabbi and scholar born in 1783 in Lithuania, who contributed significantly to Jewish thought and education in his community until his death in 1851.

Another important figure was Chaim Yoffee, born in 1810, who served as a community leader in Krakow, Poland, and was known for his philanthropic work until his death in 1872. His endeavors are frequently mentioned in community records and local manuscripts detailing Jewish contributions to Polish society.

During the mid-19th century, Aaron Yoffee, born in 1835, migrated to the United States where he became one of the founder members of a Jewish congregation in New York City. His influence persisted until his passing in 1901, with his family continuing to play a prominent role in local charity and community affairs.

Esther Yoffee, a well-known advocate for women's education born in 1878 in what is now Belarus, made significant strides in the early 20th century, establishing the first Jewish girls’ school in Minsk. Her work continued vigorously until her death in 1950, leaving an impactful legacy on education in Eastern Europe.

A notable contemporary to Sir Naphtali Yoffee’s era, born in 1891 in London, amassed recognition for his contributions to medicine, particularly in the field of pediatrics. His pioneering research and clinical practices are still acknowledged in medical literature. He passed away in 1964, but his work remains a foundation in modern pediatrics.

Overall, the surname Yoffee has a rich historical association with Jewish heritage, showcasing contributions to religious scholarship, community leadership, philanthropy, education, and medicine. The name, derived from a Hebrew expression of beauty, holds a legacy that has been etched into the annals of history through the prominent individuals bearing it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoffee

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

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 Yoffee 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.

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

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

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