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

Yoon, 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 Yoon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yoon in America

Yoon is the 2287th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoon surname appeared 15,936 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Yoon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yoon 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 Yoon

The surname Yoon has its origins in Korea, where it can be traced back to the early Goryeo period (918-1392 CE). The name is derived from the Korean word "yun," which means "cloud" or "mist." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived in a mountainous or misty area.

In ancient Korean records, the earliest known mention of the surname Yoon dates back to the 12th century. One notable figure bearing this name was Yoon Gwan (1012-1073), a renowned scholar and poet during the Goryeo Dynasty. His literary works are still studied and admired in Korea today.

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), the Yoon family was among the prominent clans in the Gyeongsang region of southeastern Korea. They produced several notable scholars, officials, and military leaders. One of the most famous was Yoon Heung-ro (1617-1680), a respected Confucian scholar and philosopher who played a significant role in the development of Korean Neo-Confucianism.

In the 19th century, Yoon Chi-ho (1865-1945) was a prominent figure in the Korean independence movement against Japanese colonial rule. He was an educator, writer, and activist who advocated for Korea's sovereignty and modernization.

Another prominent individual with the surname Yoon was Yoon Byung-se (1919-2003), a renowned South Korean novelist and literary critic. His works explored themes of identity, modernity, and the human condition, earning him widespread acclaim and numerous literary awards.

Yoon Suk-heun (1946-2021) was a celebrated South Korean actor and filmmaker who gained international recognition for his roles in films like "Oldboy" and "The President's Last Bang." He was widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in Korean cinema.

The surname Yoon has also been associated with various place names in Korea, such as Yoon-ri (a village in North Gyeongsang Province) and Yoon-cheon (a county in South Chungcheong Province). These place names likely originated from the presence of Yoon clans in those areas.

Overall, the surname Yoon has a rich history and cultural significance in Korea, with connections to literature, philosophy, politics, and the arts. Its origins can be traced back to the Goryeo period, and it has been borne by numerous notable figures throughout Korean history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoon

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

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

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

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