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

Yonko, 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 Yonko surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yonko in America

Yonko is the 61297th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yonko surname appeared 328 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 Yonko.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yonko 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 Yonko

The surname Yonko is believed to have its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in the Slavic regions. Though the exact country of origin is debated, it is often associated with Romania and Bulgaria, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences prevalent in these areas during the medieval period, around the 13th to 15th centuries. The name etymologically stems from the Slavic root "Jan," a common given name that means "God is gracious," evolving over time into the more compact form Yonko.

Historical records suggest that the name Yonko appeared in various manuscripts and documents throughout Central and Eastern Europe. One notable early record includes the mention of a Petar Yonko in Bulgarian tax records from the late 14th century. Such documents were often maintained by the orthodox ecclesiastical authorities and contained detailed information about the local residents, land ownership, and taxation.

The earliest recorded example of the name Yonko in Hungary can be traced back to the 16th century, mentioning a Miklós Yonko, a landowner in the Transylvanian region. The region's integration into the Ottoman Empire at the time meant that various cultural and ethnic groups, including those with the surname Yonko, mingled, creating a diverse local demographic.

Throughout history, the surname evolved into several variant spellings, particularly as record-keeping practices in different regions influenced its transcription. In Romania, for instance, the surname appeared as Ioncu in Wallachian princely documents dating back to the 17th century. The noble family of Yonko, prominent in the Moldavian region, included notable figures like Gavril Yonko, born in 1630, who was an advisor to the ruling prince.

By the 18th century, the name had also appeared in Poland and Ukraine, reflecting the migrations and settlement patterns typical of the time. A prominent historical figure with this surname was Stefan Yonko, born in 1704, known for his intellectual contributions to the Ukrainian Cossack Hetmanate's administration. He was a respected diplomat and landowner in Kyiv.

In the 19th century, the name further spread across Europe and even reached North America due to emigration. A notable individual from this period was Alexei Yonko, born in 1823, who played a significant role as a military officer in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His descendants would eventually settle in the United States, contributing to the growing diaspora of individuals bearing the surname.

Throughout these centuries, the surname Yonko continued to maintain its presence, with each historical figure and event adding to the rich tapestry that defines its legacy. The name Yonko remains a testament to the enduring nature of cultural identities and familial lineage across generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yonko

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

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

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

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