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

Yoo, 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 Yoo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yoo in America

Yoo is the 2724th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoo surname appeared 13,225 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Yoo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yoo 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 Yoo

The surname YOO originated in Korea, where it has been in use for centuries. It is believed to be derived from the Korean word "yu," meaning "willow tree," which may have referred to an ancestor's place of residence near a willow grove or a physical characteristic associated with the tree's slender, graceful form.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the YOO surname can be found in the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 CE) annals, where a nobleman named YOO Seung-bok (유승복) served as a high-ranking military officer during the reign of King Gongmin.

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897 CE), the YOO family gained prominence, with several members holding important government positions. One notable figure was YOO Soon-shin (유순신, 1545-1598), a celebrated naval commander who led the Korean naval forces to victory against the Japanese invaders in the Imjin War.

The YOO surname was also well-represented in the literary and scholarly circles of the Joseon period. YOO Seong-ryong (유성룡, 1542-1607), a renowned scholar and poet, was a key figure in the development of Korean literature and the promotion of Confucian values.

In the 19th century, YOO Chi-ho (유치호, 1864-1927) was a prominent educator, writer, and political activist who played a pivotal role in the Korean independence movement against Japanese colonial rule.

Another influential figure with the YOO surname was YOO Gwan-sun (유관순, 1902-1920), a legendary patriot who participated in the March 1st Movement against Japanese occupation in 1919. Despite her youth and subsequent imprisonment, she remained defiant and became a symbol of Korean resistance.

As the YOO surname spread across Korea, it also found its way into various place names, such as Yooshin-ri, a village located in the northwestern region of the country, and Yoochun-gun, a former county in the present-day North Jeolla Province.

While the YOO surname has evolved over time, with regional variations in pronunciation and spelling, its historical significance and deep roots in Korean culture remain undeniable. From military leaders and scholars to activists and patriots, the YOO name has left an indelible mark on the annals of Korean history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoo

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

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

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

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