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

Yorke, 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 Yorke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yorke in America

Yorke is the 17745th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yorke surname appeared 1,579 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Yorke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yorke 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 Yorke

The surname Yorke originated in England, dating back to the medieval period. It chiefly derives from the Old English word "Eoforwic," which evolved into "Eboracum" under Roman influence and eventually became known as "York." The name is regionally associated with the county of Yorkshire, which lies in Northeastern England. People bearing the surname Yorke were typically from this region or had roots in it.

The name Yorke appeared in historical manuscripts as early as the Domesday Book of 1086, recording it as "Eurewic." This early reference indicated its connection to the city of York. Variations in spelling were common during this time, and Yorke was frequently spelled as York or Yorck in different documents, showcasing the fluidity of medieval English orthography.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was Sir Richard Yorke, born in 1430 and passed away in 1498. He served as Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1483. Sir Richard Yorke epitomized the prominence of the family in both local and national affairs during the late 15th century.

Another significant historical figure attached to this surname was Thomas Yorke, born in 1606 and known to have died in 1668. Thomas was an English merchant and politician who represented the city of Bristol in the House of Commons during the 17th century. His influence in commercial and political spheres further cemented the surname's association with significant socio-economic activities.

Elizabeth Yorke, born in 1725 and died in 1800, was yet another distinguished individual. She became known as Lady Elizabeth Anson after her marriage and was a notable figure in British social circles. Her prominence in elite society underpinned the continuation of the name's status across centuries.

Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, born in 1690 and died in 1764, was an influential British lawyer and politician. As Lord Chancellor from 1737 to 1756, Philip Yorke's legal reforms were instrumental in shaping British jurisprudence. His achievements in law and governance highlighted the surname's association with public service and dedication to the legal profession.

Lastly, Nigel Yorke, born in the mid-20th century though specific birth and death dates are somewhat ambiguous, became a renowned figure in academic circles. His studies on medieval English history contributed significantly to the documentation and preservation of British heritage.

In summary, the history of the Yorke surname is rich with cultural and historical significance, rooted in the ancient city of York and closely tied to various distinguished individuals throughout centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yorke

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

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

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

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