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

Yokum, 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 Yokum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yokum in America

Yokum is the 28729th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yokum surname appeared 829 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 Yokum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yokum 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 Yokum

The surname Yokum is believed to have its origins in northern Europe, specifically within the Germanic regions. It emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries. The name is thought to be derived from a variation of the name Jochum or Jóckum, which are cognates of Joachim, a biblical name meaning "raised by God" or "God has established" from the Hebrew name Jehoiakim. These variations were common in the areas of present-day Germany and Scandinavia.

The first recorded instances of the surname Yokum appear in early parish records and land deeds in German-speaking regions. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a manuscript dated to the mid-14th century in the region of Hesse, Germany. The manuscript lists a Wilhelm Yokum as a property owner, indicating the name's presence and establishment in that area during that time.

As time progressed, the surname Yokum spread to surrounding regions and experienced slight variations in spelling, such as Jokum and Jochim, influenced by dialectical differences. During the period of religious reformation and migration in the 16th century, families bearing the surname Yokum moved throughout Europe, particularly to the Netherlands and Scandinavia, seeking new opportunities and religious freedoms.

Famous early bearers of the surname include Johann Yokum, a prominent figure in the Hanseatic League during the early 1500s, who was known for his trade ventures across the Baltic Sea. His influence helped establish the Yokum name in maritime commerce records. Another notable figure is Hans Peter Yokum, born in 1578, who served as a councilman in the city of Bremen and played a role in local governance and trade regulation.

By the 17th and 18th centuries, branches of the Yokum family had migrated to the Americas, primarily settling in Pennsylvania and the Carolinas. Jacob Yokum, born in 1683 and a descendant of the German Yokums, is recorded as having arrived in Philadelphia in 1709 as part of the early German Palatine migration, seeking better economic conditions and religious freedoms.

Throughout the 19th century, the Yokum surname continued to be associated with various professions and trades in the regions they settled. An example is Frederick Yokum, born in 1801, who became a well-known blacksmith in rural Pennsylvania. His contributions to the local community are documented in township records, highlighting the family's integration into American society.

The Yokum surname, with its rich Germanic roots and historical significance, illustrates the migration and adaptation of European families over centuries. It continues to be a reminder of the complex interplay between language, culture, and geography in the evolution of surnames. Through the records of individuals such as Wilhelm Yokum, Johann Yokum, Hans Peter Yokum, Jacob Yokum, and Frederick Yokum, the history of the Yokum name is preserved and celebrated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yokum

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

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

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

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