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

Yoke, 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 Yoke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yoke in America

Yoke is the 65782nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoke surname appeared 301 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 Yoke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yoke 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 Yoke

The surname Yoke has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. Linguistically, Yoke is derived from the Middle English word "yok," which itself hails from the Old English "geoc," meaning to join or unite, akin to the yoke used in farming to bind animals together for plowing. This agricultural connection suggests that the original bearers of the name might have been farmers or workers who operated yokes.

The early instances of the surname Yoke appear primarily in rural communities in England, often in regions where agriculture was the cornerstone of daily life. Historical records first mention the surname in the 13th century. For example, a man named Robert Yoke can be found residing in the county of Hampshire around 1250, as noted in certain medieval tax rolls and manorial accounts.

By the late Middle Ages, variations of the surname Yoke started appearing in English county records and other official documents. One of the earliest well-documented individuals was John Yoke (circa 1380-1450), a yeoman from Norfolk. His name appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Aylsham in the early 15th century.

Throughout the centuries, the Yoke surname occasionally shifted in spelling due to variations in dialect and phonetics. In some areas, it was recorded as Yook or even Yock. Despite these minor variations, the meaning rooted in agricultural heritage remained intact.

Another notable figure was Thomas Yoke (circa 1500-1568), a farmer from Devon. Thomas's will, dated 1568, is preserved in the Devonshire Probate Records, offering insight into the lives and industries of Yoke families during the Tudor period.

Moving into the 17th century, Richard Yoke (1620-1685) from Somerset was another prominent individual, noted for his involvement in local politics and as a landowner. His correspondence and land deals are documented in the Somerset Heritage Centre, reflecting the family's continued presence in rural England.

The surname Yoke also made transatlantic appearances during the colonial period. In 1690, Benjamin Yoke, born in England in 1662, was recorded among the early settlers in the Virginia Colony in North America. His name is found in the Jamestown Land Records, indicating the spread of the Yoke name beyond English shores.

In summary, the surname Yoke carries a rich history intertwined with agricultural practices and rural life in medieval and early modern England. Its bearers have left traces in various historical records, from medieval tax rolls to Tudor-era wills and colonial American land documents. This etymological journey speaks to the enduring legacy of the Yoke name through centuries of British history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoke

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

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

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

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