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

Yorgey, 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 Yorgey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yorgey in America

Yorgey is the 81458th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yorgey surname appeared 232 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 Yorgey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yorgey 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 Yorgey

The surname Yorgey is believed to have its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Germany. The earliest roots of the name can be traced back to the medieval period, approximately around the 12th to 14th centuries. It is thought to have originated as a variation or derivative of the German surname Georg or Jörg, both of which are derived from the Greek name Georgios, meaning "farmer" or "earth worker".

In historical records, variations of the name such as Jorgey or Jorgy appear in medieval manuscripts and local registries. One of the first known mentions is found in a 14th-century Bavarian tax record, where a Hannes Jorgey is listed as a small landholder in the region. The name's presence in tax and land documents indicates that the Yorgey family may have initially been involved in agriculture or local trades.

By the 16th century, the variant Jorgey was noted a few times in church baptismal records from the Rhineland area. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Wilhelm Jorgey, born around 1550, who was mentioned in local accounts as a skilled blacksmith in Cologne. Wilhelm's work as a blacksmith during the period of burgeoning trade in the Holy Roman Empire is documented in town logs.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, as populations moved and cities grew, the spelling Yorgey became somewhat standardized. In 1702, records from the town of Mainz list a Johann Yorgey as a craftsman who worked on the construction of a new town hall, indicating the family’s continued involvement in skilled labor and construction.

The name’s spread to other parts of Europe and eventually to North America likely occurred during the waves of migration in the 18th and 19th centuries. A notable migrant was Heinrich Yorgey, born in 1769, who emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1794. Heinrich is recorded in ship manifests and later in land acquisition records in the region, showing the transition from European to American chapters in the family history.

In the 19th century, the Yorgey surname increasingly appears in American records. One documented individual is Daniel Yorgey, born in 1820, who served as a prominent figure in local politics and was known for his contributions to community development in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Daniel's activity during a time of significant growth and change in American society highlights the evolving role of the Yorgey family in their new homeland.

Finally, as records become more comprehensive in the late 19th century, Mary Yorgey, born in 1865, emerges as a community leader organizing charitable efforts and educational programs in her local town. Her contributions are documented in local newspapers and community bulletins, reflecting the social engagement of the Yorgey family in their adopted communities.

The surname Yorgey, through its various historical references and recorded instances, illustrates the rich tapestry of a name that has evolved over centuries, showcasing the movement from its German roots to its American adaptations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yorgey

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

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

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

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