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

Yogi, 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 Yogi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yogi in America

Yogi is the 45804th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yogi surname appeared 466 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 Yogi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yogi 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 Yogi

The surname Yogi has its roots in India, with its origin likely tracing back to ancient Sanskrit. The term 'yogi' originates from the Sanskrit word 'yogin,' which signifies a practitioner of yoga. Yoga, in this context, refers to a spiritual and ascetic discipline, a significant component of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The Sanskrit term 'yoga' itself stems from the root 'yuj,' meaning to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and mind.

Historically, the surname Yogi has been associated with individuals belonging to ascetic and spiritual traditions in India. The name's association with religious and spiritual practice means it was not commonly listed in administrative records like the Domesday Book in England but found in various ancient Indian texts and scriptures. For instance, practitioners of yoga were often revered in society and sometimes documented in religious and historical manuscripts as leaders or teachers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in ancient texts like the Mahabharata, where various sages and seers were referred to as yogis. Such references do not necessarily denote it as a family name but show the cultural and religious significance of the term, which later transitioned into a surname for descendants of these practitioners.

The usage of Yogi as a surname started becoming more identifiable and formalized around the medieval period in India. Ganganath Yogi, for example, was a notable figure during the 1400s, known for his contributions to understanding Ayurvedic medicine in the western region of India. His works in the fields of health and spirituality left a lasting impact that solidified the use of Yogi as a hereditary surname among his descendants and followers.

Another prominent figure was Haridas Yogi, born in 1520 and known for his contributions to the Bhakti movement in North India, promoting devotional practices and spiritual singing. His teachings and travels through Rajasthan and Gujarat brought significant respect to the surname Yogi, which was increasingly adopted by his followers.

In the 17th century, Yogendra Yogi, born in 1645, was a well-known figure in Nepal. His work in spreading Tantric Buddhism and integrating it with local Hindu practices earned him a place in the historical and religious documents of the region. This intermingling of spiritual traditions further cemented the Yogi name's importance in the Himalayan regions.

The 19th century saw the rise of Swami Sivanand Yogi, born in 1887, who played a crucial role during the Indian independence movement as well as in the establishment of modern yoga teaching centers in India. His efforts in reviving and modernizing the practice of yoga made the Yogi surname internationally recognized, particularly among those studying Eastern spiritual practices.

Gopala Yogi, born in 1901 and influential in the early 20th century, made significant contributions to the succession of yogic teachings in southern India. His teachings and written works on Kundalini yoga gained widespread popularity, and his name appeared in several historical and philosophical treatises of the time.

The Yogi surname continues to carry with it a legacy of spiritual depth, historical importance, and cultural value, connecting bearers of the name to ancient and revered traditions within Indian society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yogi

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

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

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

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