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

Yorek, 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 Yorek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yorek in America

Yorek is the 82613th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yorek surname appeared 228 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 Yorek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yorek 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 Yorek

The surname Yorek is believed to have its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly within Polish and Ukrainian regions. The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 13th to 15th centuries, a period rich in social and cultural transformations due to the influence of various dynasties and migrations within these regions. Yorek is thought to be a phonetic variation or diminutive derivation from the given name Jurek, which itself is a Slavic diminutive form of the name George. The name George is derived from the Greek name Georgios, meaning "farmer" or "earthworker," which further connects to the origins of Yorek as indicating an agrarian background.

The surname Yorek appears sparsely in historical records, often due to the variations in spelling and linguistic adaptations over centuries. One of the earliest mentions is found in the 15th-century Polish heraldic and nobility records, where a family bearing the name Yorek or a similar variant, Jurek, is noted for its contributions to local agriculture and small-scale commerce in the Lesser Poland region. This family, though not prominently listed among the nobility, maintained a steady presence in rural communities.

In the late 16th century, a figure named Bartosz Yorek (1552-1620), a minor landowner in what is now the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, appears in property transfer documents. Bartosz Yorek was recognized for his involvement in the local village council, indicating that the Yorek lineage held positions of minor local importance during that period. These records provide insight into how the Yorek family adapted to the socio-economic changes post the Union of Lublin, which saw Poland and Lithuania consolidate numerous territories under a single state.

A notable individual bearing the surname Yorek in the 17th century is Andrej Yorek (1673-1745), a craftsman known for his skill in woodcarving in the region of Galicia. Andrej's work was documented in parish records, which highlight his contributions to several churches in the area. Through such artistic endeavors, the Yorek name became associated with a cultural and artisanal heritage, reflecting the broader socio-cultural landscape of Eastern Europe during that period.

The 18th century saw records of Ivan Yorek (1728-1792), a merchant in the Lviv area, who expanded his trading efforts from local markets to trans-regional exchanges due to the thriving economy facilitated by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s technological and infrastructural advancements. Ivan’s inclusion in the historical manuscripts of local trade guilds underlines the Yorek family’s involvement in the burgeoning commerce of that era.

In the 19th century, Mikhail Yorek (1809-1876), a scholar and writer, emerged in the Russian Empire. His literary contributions and historical writings provide a glimpse into the socio-political currents of his time, placing the Yorek surname within the intellectual circles of the era. Mikhail is noted for his critique and advocacy for serfdom abolition, and his works are preserved in regional libraries.

Overall, the surname Yorek offers a fascinating glimpse into the Eastern European history, reflecting transitions from agrarian roots to artisanal crafts and intellectual contributions. Its presence in historical records, though sporadic, underscores the adaptability and evolution of the Yorek lineage through various socio-economic and cultural shifts across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yorek

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

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

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

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