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

Yorty, 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 Yorty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yorty in America

Yorty is the 62359th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yorty surname appeared 321 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 Yorty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yorty 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 Yorty

The surname Yorty is believed to have its origins in the Germanic regions of Europe, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Germany. The name is thought to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century. The surname potentially derives from a geographical name or a topographical feature common in the German-speaking areas, although the exact etymology remains somewhat unclear.

In early records, the name appears in various spellings, indicative of the evolving languages and dialects. Among these variations are Jörte, Jorthe, and Yorth, each of which underscores the phonetical attempts to capture the pronunciation in writing. These names were often inscribed in local church records, tax archives, and land deeds during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname comes from a 1487 town record in Württemberg, Germany, where a Hans Jorty was documented as a notable townsman engaged in agricultural practices. The name gradually began to spread within the Germanic regions, showing up in various forms across local registries and ecclesiastical records.

Moving forward to the 17th century, the surname appeared in colonial America, brought over by German immigrants seeking refuge and new opportunities in the New World. A notable example is Johann Yorty, born in 1655 and one of the early settlers in Pennsylvania around 1685. His descendants played a significant role in the early development of the region.

By the 19th century, the Yorty surname had appeared in various parts of the United States and Canada, thanks to continued migration. Influential in shaping the diaspora community, Christian Yorty born in 1821, became a prominent figure in Michigan's farming community, contributing to the agricultural development of the Midwest.

In the 20th century, a particularly famous bearer of the surname was Samuel William Yorty, born in 1909 and known as Sam Yorty. He served as the Mayor of Los Angeles from 1961 to 1973, leaving a significant mark on municipal politics and urban development in the mid-20th century.

Another notable figure of the same era was George Yorty, born in 1914, who made significant contributions to the burgeoning field of radio communication technology, working extensively during and after World War II to enhance and innovate broadcast capabilities.

Throughout history, the surname Yorty has been associated with individuals who have made a mark in various fields, from agriculture and politics to technological advancements. Its presence in historical documents underscores the movement and influence of families carrying the name, transitioning from medieval Europe to the broader global stage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yorty

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

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

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

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