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

Yohnk, 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 Yohnk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yohnk in America

Yohnk is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yohnk surname appeared 103 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 Yohnk.

The history of the last name Yohnk

The surname Yohnk has its origins in Germany, specifically from the northern regions such as Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. It is believed to have emerged around the late Middle Ages, likely in the 14th or 15th centuries. The name Yohnk possibly derives from the Middle Low German word "junge," meaning "young," which might have been used to denote a younger person or a junior family member.

Historical references to the surname Yohnk are sparse but notable. One of the earliest recorded instances of a similar surname appears in 1457 in Lübeck, a significant Hanseatic city. Documented variations over the years include Jonck, Jonk, and Jönk, reflecting regional dialects and the fluidity of spelling before standardization.

Johann Yohnk, born in 1475, is one early figure who held prominence in his locality. He was known to be a merchant who contributed significantly to trade in Lübeck. Another early reference is Hans Yohnk, born in 1532 and noted for his landowning status in Holstein, indicating the family's rising social status during this period.

The Yohnk surname continued to appear sporadically in historical records through the 16th and 17th centuries. A notable person from this era is Heinrich Yohnk, born in 1601, who was a respected artisan and participated in guild activities in Hamburg.

By the 18th century, the Yohnk family had spread to other regions. Friederich Yohnk, born in 1765, was a notable academician in the University of Göttingen, contributing scholarly articles on early European history.

In the 19th century, the name crossed boundaries to other countries. Karla Yohnk, born in 1823, emigrated to the United States and became a pioneering settler in the state of Wisconsin. Her contributions to community building in the region are well-documented in local histories.

The Yohnk surname, though not widespread, carries a rich legacy rooted in Germanic culture and history, marked by its evolution over centuries and its bearers' contributions to various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yohnk

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

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

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

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