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

Yoh, 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 Yoh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yoh in America

Yoh is the 49546th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoh surname appeared 424 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 Yoh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yoh 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 Yoh

The surname Yoh is believed to have origins primarily in East Asia, particularly China and Korea. In Mandarin Chinese, its equivalent is often transliterated as "Yao," while in Korean, it can be spelled as "Yo" or "Yoh." The exact origins of the surname Yoh are somewhat difficult to pinpoint due to variations in transcription and regional dialects. However, historical records suggest its usage dates back to at least the Tang Dynasty in China (618–907 AD), where names were often derived from ancestral lineage or geographical features.

In Chinese script, Yao (姚) is the more common character associated with Yoh. It has been linked to ancient Chinese nobility and is said to derive from a character meaning "distant" or "remote," which might signify a family originating from a remote area. Some historical records indicate that the Yao surname was borne by nobles during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). A notable figure from this period was Duke Yao, a ruler mentioned in various annals and records.

The Korean version of the name, often spelled as 요 (Yo) or 요 (Yoh) in Romanized form, has its origins in the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392 AD). It is less common than its Chinese counterpart but can still be traced to significant historical figures. For example, the scholar Yo Gwanju, who lived during the late Goryeo period, was well known for his contributions to Confucian thought and governance. His work is documented in several Korean historical texts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Yoh in a Western context is found in missionary records from the 19th century. A Chinese Christian convert named Yoh Anping was mentioned in missionary archives around 1860. His life and contributions to the spread of Christianity in southern China were documented extensively.

In Japan, the surname Yoh is rare, often a result of Chinese immigrants who kept their original surname upon naturalization. Yoh Tatsuya, born in 1947, is a notable figure in contemporary Japan. He is a respected artist known for his influence in the avant-garde movement during the late 20th century.

In modern times, the surname Yoh can also be found in diaspora communities around the world. Dr. Hae-Sung Yoh, born in 1954, is a prominent South Korean educator and peace advocate who has received international recognition for his work in promoting understanding between North and South Korea.

Historical manuscripts and records have occasionally misinterpreted or misspelled the surname Yoh due to its phonetic similarity to other surnames. Despite this, the name carries a rich history linked to nobility, scholarship, and cultural contributions across different East Asian cultures. The surname Yoh endures as a symbol of both ancient lineage and modern achievement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoh

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

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

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

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