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

Yorba, 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 Yorba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yorba in America

Yorba is the 47272nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yorba surname appeared 449 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 Yorba.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yorba 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 Yorba

The surname Yorba has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically within Spain. The name is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 14th to 15th centuries. It is likely derived from the Basque language, given the phonetic proximity to the Basque region, though concrete documentation remains sparse regarding its precise etymology.

In the mountainous and densely forested regions of northern Spain, the surname Yorba may have been associated with small, independent communities that spoke early forms of the Basque language. These areas were characterized by their unique linguistic traditions that often influenced local surnames. The root of the name Yorba might be connected to words meaning "valley" or "forest," signifying the family's geographical origin.

Historical references to the surname first appear in scattered local records, such as parish registers and land deeds. These documents, some dating from the 16th century, hint at the existence of families bearing the name in regions like Navarre and the Basque Country. Although Yorba did not feature in widespread or prominent registers such as the English Domesday Book, it maintained a notable presence in smaller, regional lists.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Yorba include individuals like Juan de Yorba, a landowner documented in the early 17th century in the province of Gipuzkoa. Another notable early bearer was Martín Yorba, born circa 1620, whose name appears in municipal records related to taxations and local governance.

During the colonization of the Americas, members of the Yorba family migrated to the New World, particularly to areas in present-day California. José Antonio Yorba, born in 1743 in Catalonia, is a pivotal figure in this context. He became a prominent landowner and soldier, remembered for his significant contributions to the Spanish colonization efforts in California. He established Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana, influencing the social and economic landscape of the region until his death in 1825.

Subsequent generations of the Yorba family continued to play crucial roles in the development of Californian society. For instance, Bernardo Yorba, born in 1800, expanded the family's influence and holdings. He was instrumental in the establishment of the extensive Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana and was a significant figure until his death in 1858.

In the latter half of the 19th century, Vincent Yorba, born in 1845, carried on the family legacy through various entrepreneurial endeavors. He participated in the dairy and livestock industries, which were cornerstones of Californian agriculture during that period.

Finally, Ramon Peralta Yorba, born in 1865, is an example of the later generations who maintained the family's status in the region. His activities in local politics and community affairs ensured that the Yorba name remained influential well into the 20th century.

The surname Yorba encapsulates a rich history intertwined with the indigenous Basque culture and the Spanish colonization of the Americas, reflecting the diaspora from Spain to the New World and its lasting legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yorba

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

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

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

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