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

Yokley, 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 Yokley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yokley in America

Yokley is the 20884th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yokley surname appeared 1,262 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 Yokley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yokley 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 Yokley

The surname Yokley is of Anglo-Saxon origin, with its roots tracing back to England in the early medieval period. The name likely originated from the regions in England known for their pastoral and agricultural landscapes, particularly areas around Yorkshire. Yokley could be derived from the Old English words "geoc," meaning yoke, and "leah," meaning clearing or meadow, suggesting that the original bearers of the surname were associated with farming or land clearing, possibly involved in yoke-making.

Old records and manuscripts from the medieval period provide some insight into the early mentions of the surname. Although the exact appearance of Yokley in historic documents is rare, variations of the name such as Yockley or Yockly have been documented. One of the earliest known references appears in a land grant from the 13th century, where a Thomas de Yockley is mentioned. This suggests that the name was firmly established by that time and associated with specific locales.

The surname appears in various forms across different historical records. For instance, the "Peculiar Court" records of the 15th century list a John Yokely as a landholder in the county of Yorkshire. More records from the Elizabethan era show a Richard Yokley involved in local governance in Lincolnshire around 1572, further confirming the geographical spread and influence of the Yokley family during that period.

Several notable individuals with the surname Yokley emerged throughout history. Robert Yokley, born in 1594, was a tenant farmer of note in Hampshire, recognized in local records for his contributions to agricultural innovations of the time. Elizabeth Yokley, a matron born in 1678, is mentioned in parish records for her philanthropic efforts during the early 18th century. Also noteworthy is Captain Thomas Yokley, who served as a maritime officer during the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the late 1600s and was born circa 1645.

In the 18th century, the Yokley name continued to be prominent. Sarah Yokley, born in 1732, became a noted midwife in her community, earning acclaim for her skills and dedication. The Yokley surname also appears in records from the American colonies, where George Yokley, born in 1760, is listed as one of the early settlers in Virginia, contributing to the westward expansion of the United States. His descendants continued to play pivotal roles in local politics and community development.

The Yokley surname emanates a rich legacy and dispersal from its early days in rural England to its transatlantic journeys. While modern data is beyond the scope of this historical account, the Yokley name has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on various regions and remains a symbol of resilient lineage and diverse heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yokley

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

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

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

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