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

Yonek, 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 Yonek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yonek in America

Yonek is the 126765th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yonek surname appeared 135 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 Yonek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yonek 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 Yonek

The surname Yonek originated from Eastern Europe, specifically Poland, during the late medieval period. The name is believed to have roots in the Polish word "jonak," which means "youth" or "young man." This suggests that the original bearers of the name might have been associated with youthfulness or a youthful demeanor. The regions where the name was prominently found include Lesser Poland and parts of Silesia.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Yonek appears in the 15th century, in church records from Kraków. The name was spelt slightly differently in older manuscripts; variations included Jonek and Jonnek, reflecting the phonetic flexibility of medieval Polish orthography. The Yonek family was likely part of the burgeoning mercantile class in these areas, given the historical context and occupational records.

A historical reference to the surname appears in the 1462 tax registers of Kazimierz, a significant suburb of Kraków. Here, a certain Michal Yonek was recorded as a taxpayer. This early mention suggests that the family was established and recognized within the local community.

Among the earliest distinguishable individuals with the Yonek surname is Jan Yonek, born around 1485, who served as a notary in Kraków. His meticulous records in civic matters made him a notable figure in local governance during the early 16th century. Another significant individual is Marek Yonek, born in 1560, who was a merchant dealing in grain and textiles. His trading activities linked Lesser Poland with Silesia, emphasizing the family's role in regional commerce.

In literary circles, the name Yonek is mentioned in early 17th-century Polish poetry. A Piotr Yonek, born circa 1605, garnered attention as a minor poet and scribe, contributing to local cultural preservation through his verses and copied manuscripts.

In the military realm, Wojciech Yonek is a noteworthy figure. Born in 1622, he served as a cavalryman in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the wars against Sweden. His service was documented in military rolls of the period, demonstrating the family's continued prominence.

By the late 18th century, Helena Yonek, born in 1748, emerged as a prominent figure in Kraków's educational reforms. She was instrumental in establishing schools for girls, reflecting the evolving societal values. Her work in education laid a foundation for future generations and left a lasting legacy.

The surname Yonek's history is thus intertwined with various facets of Polish medieval and early modern life, spanning commerce, governance, literature, military, and education. The name's evolution through different spellings and its association with significant historical figures highlights its enduring presence and influence over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yonek

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

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

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

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