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

Yoro, 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 Yoro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yoro in America

Yoro is the 79846th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoro surname appeared 238 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 Yoro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yoro 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 Yoro

The surname Yoro has origins that remain relatively obscure but suggest a deep historical and cultural background linked to various regions. It is believed to have originated from West Africa, particularly from countries like Nigeria and Cameroon, where it holds significant cultural importance. The name Yoro appears to be connected to indigenous languages and communities, with possible derivations from local dialects and linguistic roots.

One possible derivation of Yoro might be linked to the Yoruba people, a major ethnic group in Nigeria. The Yoruba culture and language have a rich history, but there are no direct linguistic connections established between the Yoruba and the surname Yoro, suggesting that the name might stem from a different or localized dialect. The exact etymology remains to be precisely determined, but it often denotes connections to tribal leadership or community roles in African societies.

Historical references to the surname Yoro are sparse, but some documents from the colonial period in Africa do provide mention. During the European colonization of Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries, records kept by colonial administrations occasionally mentioned individuals with the surname Yoro, usually in the context of local governance or community leadership roles. These individuals were often engaged by colonial powers for mediation with native communities.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Yoro dates back to the late 19th century in colonial records of Nigeria. One notable figure is Chief Bademosi Yoro, a local leader in the Yoruba region around this time, who is believed to have played a significant role in mediation between local people and British colonial authorities. His efforts were recorded in various colonial archives, though exact dates of birth and death are unavailable.

Another prominent person with the surname Yoro was Benjamin Yoro, documented in the early 20th century as an influential merchant and community leader in Cameroon. Benjamin Yoro born around 1880, was known for his contributions to the local economy and efforts to improve community infrastructure. His legacy includes several business ventures and philanthropic activities aimed at supporting education and health services.

In more recent historical contexts, the name Yoro appears in the mid-20th century records of Senegal, featuring Marie-Yves Yoro, a political activist born in 1927. She was instrumental in advocating for women's rights and political participation in post-independence Senegal and played a significant role in the country's socio-political advancements during the 1950s and 1960s.

Further back in the 18th century, a Senegalese historian and storyteller named Abdullah Yoro gained recognition for his documented oral histories, which provided crucial insights into pre-colonial African societies. His work remains an important source for understanding the historical and cultural contexts of West African civilizations before European contact.

The name Yoro also appears in the history of the Caribbean, where during the transatlantic slave trade, many Africans, including those bearing the surname Yoro or variations thereof, were transported. Records from plantation documents in Haiti and Guadeloupe have mentioned slaves named Yoro, though specific personal details are often incomplete or lost.

Overall, the surname Yoro, while not prevalent in any single historical document, demonstrates a fascinating spread across several regions and centuries, linking back to rich and diverse African heritage and notable figures who have contributed to their communities in varied and significant ways.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoro

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

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

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

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