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

Yonkman, 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 Yonkman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yonkman in America

Yonkman is the 71886th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yonkman surname appeared 271 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 Yonkman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yonkman 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 Yonkman

The surname Yonkman originates from the Netherlands and is typically found among Dutch-speaking populations. The name likely first appeared in the northern regions of the Netherlands during the early modern period, around the 16th or 17th centuries. It could be linked to the Dutch word "jonk," which translates to "young" or "youth." This suggests that early bearers of the surname may have been described as youthful or junior members of a family or community.

Initially, those with the surname Yonkman might have been concentrated in areas such as Friesland or the Groningen provinces. These northern regions were known for their distinct dialects and cultural particularities. One of the oldest spellings of the name discovered in historical documents was "Jonkman," a spelling that directly reflects the word "jonk." Over time, the pronunciation and spelling evolved into Yonkman as it spread.

Dutch parish records from the 17th and 18th centuries sometimes list individuals with this surname. For instance, a baptismal record from 1685 in Groningen mentions a Pieter Yonkman, one of the earliest documented individuals with this surname. These records are crucial for understanding the geographic distribution and lineage of the name.

Jacob Yonkman, born in 1820 in Friesland, is another notable figure. He emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century, reflecting the broader trend of European migration to the New World. His legacy includes a large family that continued to spread the Yonkman name across the Midwest.

Another significant individual was Dirk Yonkman, born in 1832, who played a vital role in local governance in Groningen. He was an influential figure in his community, serving as a town council member and spearheading various local initiatives during his lifetime.

The Yonkman family name also appears in diverse colonial records, particularly those of the Dutch East Indies, illustrating the extensive reach of Dutch families globally. Jan Yonkman, born in 1785, worked as a merchant in the Dutch East Indies, contributing to the colonial economic activities of the Netherlands.

Freerk Yonkman, born in 1870, was known for his contributions to agricultural advancements in the Netherlands. His innovative farming techniques were documented in agricultural journals of the time, making him a local authority in his field.

In the realm of academia, Harmen Yonkman, born in 1925, made significant contributions to the study of Dutch linguistics. His scholarly works on dialectology remain references for many researchers studying the intricacies of regional language variations within the Netherlands.

Historically, the surname Yonkman has been associated with various notable figures, each contributing to their respective fields and showing the name's roots in Dutch culture and its spread through migration and scholarly pursuits. It stands as a testament to the rich and complex history of Dutch surnames and their evolution over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yonkman

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

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

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

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